18:30 Taunton

Wednesday 23 April 2025

All17:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Charles Clark Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 4m 43.1s

Jukebox Annie¹⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Claire Hitch| OR: 94| C

14/1

Won a bumper last season but fell at this course on hurdling debut. However, after a year off she landed 4-runner novice here (16.5f, good) in November, before finding it tougher under a penalty 2 weeks later. More needed upped in trip for handicap bow.

Form: U19F-14

Bobby's Fortune^p1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 93

4/1

Bumper winner who got back on track making second handicap start over hurdles when fourth of 8 at Lingfield (16f, heavy) in February. Bad mistake early on when pulled up at Fakenham (20f) last time, so he's not ruled out with cheekpieces applied.

Form: 6-P494P

Lusso Milan³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 88

28/1

Runner-up in a Plumpton bumper on debut but hasn't built on that since, making first start since leaving Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill when well-beaten fourth of 7 in maiden hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, good) a month ago. Has work to do sent handicapping.

Form: 24-5804

Elusive Enemy³²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: A Gibbons| OR: 86

40/1

Surpassed previous form when second in a Worcester maiden hurdle (16f, good to soft) in May 2023 but has gone backwards from that effort in 3 starts since, pulled up in handicap at Newton Abbot when last seen in June. Enough to prove after another 10 months off.

Form: 60/28P-P

Lara Kaleo²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 95

10/1

Encouraging third in Hereford juvenile maiden hurdle on debut and ran to similar level when second of 6 in mares' maiden at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Interesting contender making quick switch to a handicap with good-value claimer on board.

Form: 32

Bruce Gobbler²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 81

7/2

Little impact for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White in 2023/24, but won a point in May last year and showed more on second start for current yard when fifth of 14 in handicap at this course (16.5f, good) last month. Major player with return to further to suit.

Form: P31475

Stage Show⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 75

6/1

Fair maiden on the Flat and more like it over hurdles with a brace of fourth-place finishes in handicaps around 17f (both on good ground) in the autumn. Form has subsequently dipped on softer ground, but he should benefit from return to less testing conditions.

Form: 460769

Sevenofus^t,p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 75

11/1

Remains a long-standing maiden under Rules but arrives in decent heart over hurdles, running well in refitted cheekpieces/tongue tie when second in handicap at Newton Abbot (21.6f, good) 13 days ago. Could be in the mix once more.

Form: 786252

Karakoy^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 75

9/2

Fair winner on the Flat but yet to match that form over hurdles. However, he has made the frame on last 3 completed starts in handicaps, off 3 months prior to finishing third of 7 at this course (16.5f, good to firm) 2 weeks ago. Needs to prove himself at this trip.

Form: 6-943P3

Deal Em High¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: R T Dunne| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 71

16/1

In cheekpieces and tongue strap, returned to form when third at Bangor (16.7f, good) in September but has failed to build on that in 2 starts since, pulled up at Southwell on latest outing in December. Now goes without the headgear/tongue strap after a break.

Form: P-7830P

Pink Eyed Pancho^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Brace| OR: 70

12/1

Placed in a point bumper but tailed off in bumper on Rules debut. With tongue strap added, completed for first time over hurdles when third of 5 in novice at Ffos Las (20f, good to soft) last month, though finished well held, so improvement required on handicap bow.

Form: 03-0PP3

Non-Runners

Bradman¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 4

T: K Bishop J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Bruce Gobbler (7/2), Bobby's Fortune (4/1), Karakoy (9/2), Stage Show (6/1), Lara Kaleo (10/1), Sevenofus (11/1), Pink Eyed Pancho (12/1), Jukebox Annie (14/1), Deal Em High (16/1), Bradman (20/1), Lusso Milan (28/1), Elusive Enemy (40/1)

Making his second start for his current yard, BRUCE GOBBLER fared better than previously over hurdles when fifth of 14 at this course last time and he could still have more to offer back up in trip. He is taken to open his account under Rules, though Lara Kaleo is one to note going handicapping on only her third outing, with Sevenofus completing the shortlist.