14:05 Taunton

Saturday 17 January 2026

All12:5513:3214:0514:4315:1515:5016:20

Stag Environmental Polaris Dealer Devon / Somerset Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:08 | Winning time: 6m 13.72s

Lion Of The Desert^h⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris| OR: 103

66/1

Some promise in Irish maidens for previous yard but finished well beaten on debut for current stable at Exeter (18.5f, 40/1) last month. Upped markedly in trip and only considered if market expects better.

Form: 89573-0

Smile Back²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 102| D

5/1

Point/bumper winner. Brought along steadily in maiden hurdles and improved for the switch to handicaps, finishing runner-up in a pair of 2½m hurdles at Leicester on soft/heavy at the back end of last year. Still early days and could well have more to offer over this longer trip.

Form: 854-922

Ribba Hill¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 102

20/1

Fair winner on the Flat for Grant Tuer (stays 12.5f) and has steadily progressed over hurdles, well held fourth in 19f novice here on qualifying run. No surprise to see him make more impact upped in trip for handicap debut.

Form: 954

Kilworth³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 99| D

8/1

Winning pointer who showed a bit more on second start for current yard when distant third at Exeter (23.1f). Unable to back that up on qualifying run at Ludlow (21.3f) but appeals as the type who may do better now handicapping over further. One to note with Sean Bowen booked.

Form: 145-F37

It's A Breeze^h³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 99

20/1

Well-related sort has been held back by headstrong tendencies since hurdle debut third, running a typical race on return to Wincanton (15.2f) last month. Underachieved thus far and will need to race more efficiently if he's to make more impact over this markedly longer trip.

Form: 8/367-38

Snapdance^h⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 98

9/1

Placed in maiden hurdle in spring of 2024 and showed he retains ability on second start following a long absence when third on handicap debut at Wincanton (24.7f, soft) last time. The form has taken a few knocks but he's lightly-raced and not discounted if backing up latest effort.

Form: 6653/93

Tell The Tale³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 95| D

10/1

Dead-heated in an Irish point and having seemingly been campaigned with handicaps in mind, fared little better when well held fourth in 9-runner handicap at Doncaster (19.4f, soft) 36 days ago. Now exploring longer trips and too soon to discount.

Form: 21P-864

Square Du Roule¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: N J Hawke| OR: 91| BF

3/1

Strong-travelling sort arrives in the form of his life, gaining a deserved first success at Exeter (21.6f, soft) prior to hitting the frame twice over C&D, latterly when beaten a short-head by a progressive one (who got first run) 18 days ago. Remains one to be interested in.

Form: 282142

Newmill Getaway²²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Hogan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 87| BF

5/1

Fair bumper winner for David Brace who shaped well when well-backed runner-up on reappearance/stable debut at Bangor in May. Confirmed that promise/suited by step up in trip when chasing home improving Heather Honey at Bangor (23.2f, good) next time. That form reads well in this company.

Form: 86/53-22

Jewel Of Windsor^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 85

12/1

Some hope on best point/bumper exploits and may have needed last month's Hereford run after 6 months off. Steps up in trip with hood refitted and market can guide with yard also saddling Tell The Tale/Nowyouvebinandunit.

Form: 79-7478

Nowyouvebinandunit^v⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 76

5/1

Didn't look most straightforward when chasing home Mask of Zorro (closely matched with Square de Roule) at Fontwell (21.8f) but shaped as if still in form in first-time visor (retained) over same C&D last time. Capable but needs things to fall right to break her maiden from 2 lb out the weights.

Form: 646324

Brucie Bonus^p⁶¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Miss Sarah Robinson| OR: 72

125/1

Has yet to achieve anything and isn't one to be interested in following a 20-month absence.

Form: 9P986/P-

Emberscombe⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Taylor Fisher| T: J Tickle| OR: 71| D

100/1

Poor maiden hurdler/chaser under Rules. Won a point in June but remains opposable on first start over hurdles since summer 2023.

Form: P3-51P4

Non-Runners

Avada Kedavra¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: D G Bridgwater J: James Turner

Forecasts

Square Du Roule (3/1), Nowyouvebinandunit (5/1), Newmill Getaway (5/1), Smile Back (5/1), Kilworth (8/1), Snapdance (9/1), Tell The Tale (10/1), Jewel Of Windsor (12/1), Avada Kedavra (16/1), It's A Breeze (20/1), Ribba Hill (20/1), Lion Of The Desert (66/1), Emberscombe (100/1), Brucie Bonus (125/1)

NEWMILL GETAWAY was only beaten by an improver on second start for Fergal O'Brien last June and having gone well fresh previously, she's taken to make a winning return, while in-form Square de Roule was only narrowly pipped by a progressive one over C&D last time and merits plenty of respect in his current vein of form. Emma Lavelle has her string in good order and Kilworth may do better with Sean Bowen booked for handicap debut.