13:40 Taunton

Thursday 27 November 2025

All12:3513:0513:4014:1514:5015:2215:52

Trucksmith Loloader Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 58.97s

Portnacoo³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: P Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 118

25/1

Four-time hurdle winner but below par in that sphere of late and pulled up on previous chase start 18 months ago. Best watched unless the betting hints otherwise.

Form: 41P-74P

Wicked Thoughts^p²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118

6/1

Bumper/hurdle winner. Also successful in a point at the start of his career, which suggests he should take to chasing for his top stable. On the shortlist.

Form: 2/2F21P-

Holeshot³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 114| C

11/4

All-the-way winner of handicap hurdles here (19f, soft) and at Warwick (2m, good) in the spring. Not disgraced when fifth of 11 on 2½m Bangor chase debut last month, staying on late. Potential improver now stepping up in trip.

Form: 5115-75

Gris Majeur²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 113

12/1

Looked better than ever when landing a 4-runner handicap chase at Ludlow (2½m, good to firm) on his reappearance in October and backed that up with a good second over 25f at Hereford 24 days ago. Should go well again.

Form: 2PP2-12

Maximum Offers²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 113

15/8

Huntingdon maiden hurdle winner in March and returned with a creditable third in 2½m novice Uttoxeter 4 weeks ago. Switches to fences for his handicap debut. Interesting for a yard which continues to knock in the winners.

Form: 2/3612-3

Boyles Hill²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Evan Williams| OR: 112

25/1

Three hurdle wins last season but ran poorly when sent to contest a big-field handicap at the Punchestown Festival in April and pulled up on recent Chepstow chase debut after 6 months off. Way too soon to write him off in this sphere but can only watch this time.

Form: 10110-9

Gwash^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112

14/1

Runner-up in 23f Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in July but 2 lesser runs have followed. Now switches to fences with cheekpieces also refitted in a bid to get back to form.

Form: 5-66287

Bertie Wooster^t1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 97| C

4/1

Fair hurdle winner but has run below that level in 7 chase starts and fared no better back hurdling at Kempton 17 days ago. The stable is going well in general but he arrives with a bit to prove. Wears a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 333P-37

Forecasts

Maximum Offers (15/8), Holeshot (11/4), Bertie Wooster (4/1), Wicked Thoughts (6/1), Gris Majeur (12/1), Gwash (14/1), Boyles Hill (25/1), Portnacoo (25/1)

GRIS MAJEUR is the solid one after a win and good second from his 2 outings this season. A point background suggests Maximum Offers should take to fences and he's a potentially dangerous opponent having built a solid platform for handicaps in his 4 hurdle starts. Wicked Thoughts is another interesting recruit to the chasing ranks having won a point at the start of his career.