14:50 Taunton

Tuesday 30 December 2025

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2315:55

Boyle Sports Home Of Early Payout Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 57.99s

Bitsnbuckles^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 105

9/2

Winless since handicap debut success at Huntingdon in January 2024, but has performed with credit on a couple of occasions since, including when third in a first-time tongue strap (retained) back at that course last time. One to consider.

Form: 77/42-43

Mask Of Zorro²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 104

4/1

Showed ability in maiden hurdles and has won both starts switched to handicap company over 21.8f at Fontwell, despite his jumping not being foot-perfect. 6 lb rise for latest success looks manageable and this trip should be within range, so a bold show to complete the hat-trick is on the cards.

Form: 756-411

I Am Spider Man^h⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 104

22/1

Two-time winner for Charles Byrnes at Sligo (good to soft) in 2024, but has offered little in 3 runs on this side of the Irish Sea for two different yards and now makes debut for yet another new stable.

Form: 00270-7

Face d'Music^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Miss C Morris⁽⁷⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 104

28/1

Winning hurdler who jumped better than previously when opening chase account at Hereford last November. Well held next 4 starts over fences and while he wasn't entirely disgraced back in this sphere following a break at Ludlow (23.8f, good to soft), other make more appeal.

Form: 144-PP4

Milan Ac^b1²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 100

50/1

Runner-up in a Ffos Las novice in May 2024, but restricted to just 3 runs since and has shown minimal spark in the process. Hopes now pinned on the addition of blinkers sparking a revival.

Form: 2/827-P6

See The Green^b1²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 100

12/1

Just a Ludlow juvenile success to his name over hurdles, but has emerged with credit from his last 3 starts, finishing third in handicaps at Stratford, Doncaster and when upped to 23f at Exeter (soft) last time. Forecast quicker ground here will be in his favour and sports first-time blinkers.

Form: 3-60333

Lady Caro⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 91

9/1

Narrow Plumpton success in March remains her sole success in this sphere from 16 attempts and while she resumed with a couple of creditable placed efforts in September, her form has dipped the last twice. Hopes now pinned on this big jump up in trip working in her favour.

Form: 1P-3337

The Italian Fox²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 87

25/1

No show in trio of novice hurdles at up to 2½m, but it's not hard to envisage improvement from this 5-y-o now that he moves up in trip for this handicap debut. Interesting to see how he fares in the betting, particularly in relation to stablemate Mask of Zorro.

Form: 5-97

Square Du Roule¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: N J Hawke| OR: 86| BF

11/10

Several creditable efforts in defeat this year prior to gaining a deserved first success at the chief expense of the re-opposing Chedington's Guest at Exeter (21.6f, soft) on penultimate start. Wasn't seen to best effect when fourth of 16 upped in trip over this C&D recently and he's a key player.

Form: 228214

Non-Runners

It's A Breeze¹⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Ben Bromley

Lelantos³⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: N J Henderson J: James Bowen

Chedington's Guest²⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: Kieran Burke J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Square Du Roule (11/10), Mask Of Zorro (4/1), Bitsnbuckles (9/2), Lelantos (9/2), Lady Caro (9/1), Chedington's Guest (10/1), See The Green (12/1), It's A Breeze (12/1), I Am Spider Man (22/1), The Italian Fox (25/1), Face d'Music (28/1), Milan Ac (50/1)

The pick of several viable candidates is SQUARE DU ROULE, who opened his account at Exeter last month and subsequently found himself with too much to do when fourth over this C&D. He is unexposed as a stayer and again has the services of Harry Cobden. See The Green has been knocking on the door of late and will be a threat if responding well to the new headgear, while Bitsnbuckles, Lelantos and the Tizzard-trained duo Mask of Zorro and The Italian Fox are others to consider.