14:16 Taunton

Thursday 26 February 2026

All13:4114:1614:5115:2616:0116:36

St Austell Brewery Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 4m 57.73s

Pillar The Poet⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: I Chanin| OR: 95

16/1

Modest form in bumpers and 3 maiden hurdles in the spring for Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole. Has since ran in 2 point-to-points, finishing placed on the latter of those in November. Others preferred making handicap debut back under Rules.

Form: 8/565-63

Marhaba Million^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 95

40/1

A fairly useful maiden on the Flat for Owen Burrows in 2024 but lost his form on the level for Anthony Charlton and also offered little in 3 starts hurdles for current yard this season. Not easy to make a case for on handicap debut.

Form: 053

All Night Parking^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C J Gray| OR: 95

125/1

Two-time point winner made the frame in a novice and a maiden at Newton Abbot in summer 2024. Well beaten in point-to-points early last year though and was down the field when unseating late on handicap hurdle bow last time.

Form: 447FP-F

Cooler Than Me^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 92| CD

5/6

Lightly raced 8-y-o who landed a gambled at Market Rasen on handicap debut at the start of this month before following up in comprehensive fashion at this C&D a fortnight ago. Improvement remains likely and he's the one to beat from 9 lb higher mark.

Form: BP-8011

Diamond Days^p1³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 88

9/2

Placed over hurdles on return at Fontwell and has showed some aptitude without threatening to win in 3 starts over fences since. Place claims returning to the smaller obstacles in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2P-3455

Man Oh Man⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver| T: D Summersby| OR: 81

7/1

Winless but shaped reasonably well when third at this C&D in November, catching the eye with move into contention but unable to sustain it. Couldn't build on that meeting heavy ground at Ffos Las next time and he's discounted from making the frame.

Form: PP/P-637

Gorcombe And Wise²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 75

11/2

Showed a bit more when seventh of 11 on handicap debut at Wincanton (19.8f, heavy, 6/1) 28 days ago but will likely be of more interest over further.

Form: 088-7

Talap^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: G F Edwards| OR: 74

9/1

Sporting first-time cheekpieces in this code, he turned in easily his best effort over hurdles when 8 lengths second of 10 to Cooler Than Me in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft, 100/1) 14 days ago. Should be placed again if able to back that up.

Form: 3-37P02

Bowmans Dream⁸¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: C J Gray| OR: 68

250/1

No form over hurdles in 2023 and makes no appeal returning as a veteran after an absence of over 2 years.

Form: 8455P/

Non-Runners

Harksman⁴⁵

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: M Keighley J: Non Runner

Joker Jack²³

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: Claire Hitch J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

Forecasts

Cooler Than Me (5/6), Diamond Days (9/2), Gorcombe And Wise (11/2), Man Oh Man (7/1), Talap (9/1), Pillar The Poet (16/1), Harksman (25/1), Marhaba Million (40/1), Joker Jack (50/1), All Night Parking (125/1), Bowmans Dream (250/1)

The hat-trick seeking COOLER THAN ME is the only horse in this field that could be described as upwardly-mobile and he should take advantage of a good opportunity to notch a third successive handicap. Talap, runner-up behind the selection over C&D 2 weeks ago can fill the same position, with Diamond Days looking best of the rest.