15:55 Taunton

Tuesday 30 December 2025

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

Musgrove Park Hospital League Of Friends Conditional Jockeys' Training Series Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 39.23s

Zaochen Enki⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Keighley⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 112

4/1

Runner-up in France before going one place better on stable debut at Wincanton in March. Hasn't built on that since, including a disappointing well-held fourth in Fontwell handicap last time, but it's still early days and his leading yard does well in this race.

Form: 213-64

Cornish Storm^p1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Oscar Palmer⁽³⁾| T: W S Kittow| OR: 111| C

6/1

Course maiden winner in February. Best effort since when second in 2m Kempton handicap last month. All but came down after a blunder 4 out at Wincanton since so probably worth forgiving that. Cheekpieces are added.

Form: 38-6029

Balboa²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Smith| T: J W Mullins| OR: 110

13/2

On a long losing run but possible he needed a recent Wincanton outing after 6 months off and he should be more than capable off this reduced mark back up in trip.

Form: 638-857

Dirty Den^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Atkins| T: S Hosie| OR: 108

4/1

Opened hurdles account at Worcester (2m, good to soft) in May. Placed on next 4 starts and his regular hood was missing when a below-par eighth at Wincanton 26 days ago. The hood returns now. Needs considering.

Form: 123228

Green Sky^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 106

28/1

Flat winner in Ireland and fair maiden hurdler for Stuart Crawford but beaten a long way in 2 outings for David Pipe. First-time cheekpieces need to have a revitalising effect.

Form: 3492-93

Vernon Subutex^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁸⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 103| D

22/1

Managed a hurdle win in France last December (only run for Hugo Merienne) but well held in Britain in recent years, including back from 13 months off at Doncaster recently.

Form: P8/P61-8

Inferno Sacree²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Murray Dodd| T: N J Hawke| OR: 103| D

6/1

Winless since bagging back-to-back handicaps during spring 2023, but he has been placed on a number of occasions in the interim, including good second at Plumpton (2m, soft) 4 weeks ago. Another prominent showing is likely.

Form: 3253-32

Border Gem¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Chad Bament| T: J Scott| OR: 96

11/4

Failed to match the pick of her maiden/novice form when beaten just under 15 lengths into fourth on Wincanton handicap debut a fortnight ago.

Form: 42-5424

Forecasts

Border Gem (11/4), Dirty Den (4/1), Zaochen Enki (4/1), Cornish Storm (6/1), Inferno Sacree (6/1), Balboa (13/2), Vernon Subutex (22/1), Green Sky (28/1)

The fact Paul Nicholls has a good recent record in this race suggests it might be worth giving another chance to ZAOCHEN ENKI. Inferno Sacree and Dirty Den, who has a hood quickly refitted, are pretty consistent at this sort of level and should figure, while Balboa is also handicapped to have a say if stripping fitter for a recent outing at Wincanton.