15:35 Taunton

Thursday 27 February 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 30.1s

Salley Gardens^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 112

10/1

Ran up to best when second of 14 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (20.7f, soft) 35 days ago. Sure to be firmly in the mix with a repeat.

Form: 335-242

Badbury Rings¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110

5/4

Had been shaping up well and got off the mark in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Wincanton (24.7f, soft) 12 days ago, plenty in hand. Open to further improvement and looks capable of following up.

Form: 606321

Longshanks^p⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 109| D

16/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. Rare below-par effort when fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, heavy) 45 days ago. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: R223-25

Valens Bruyee^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 107

11/1

Took a step back in the right direction returned to hurdling when second at Ffos Las (20f) in December but wasn't in anything like the same form at Newbury since.

Form: 51-PP2P

Iris Des Issards⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Godfrey| T: K Woollacott| OR: 106

5/1

14/1, found run of good form coming to a halt when tenth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (19.8f, soft) 42 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: P52-340

Looking For Larry¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: T Dennis| OR: 106| BF| D

13/2

Pulled up in handicap chase at Exeter (19.2f, soft, 10/3) on debut over fences 18 days ago, whipping round start and losing touch 5 out. Quickly reverts to hurdling.

Form: 516/01P

Sirekoff^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 106

33/1

Winner at Newton Abbot in August but below form in handicaps all 3 starts since.

Form: 421096

Drash On Ruby^t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 93

5/1

Remains a maiden after 16 NH runs but again ran respectably when third of 12 in handicap hurdle (17/2) at this course (19f, soft) 23 days ago. Up in trip and should give another good account.

Form: 232/033

Forecasts

Badbury Rings (5/4), Drash On Ruby (5/1), Iris Des Issards (5/1), Looking For Larry (13/2), Salley Gardens (10/1), Valens Bruyee (11/1), Longshanks (16/1), Sirekoff (33/1)

BADBURY RINGS got the job done with far more in hand than the bare margin implies at Wincanton 12 days ago and surely has further progress and wins in him on that evidence. Salley Gardens and Drash On Ruby are feared most in that order.