Racecards
15:50 Taunton
40% Better Off On Betfair SP Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,851
- 2nd: £1,997
- 3rd: £999
- Form 2220-29
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, driven along before 6th, weakened next
- Form 0-11211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up mid-division and keen, ridden and weakened after 3 out
- Form 2F5F-P1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey D F O'Regan
led until approaching 5th, chased leader, weakened after 3 out
- Form 1520P-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, weakened after 3 out
- Form 52U-202
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5th, weakened next, tailed off 3 out
Simply Blue
17- Form 147/1-69
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer S C Burrough
- Jockey A Glassonbury
held up mid-division on inner, headway approaching 6th, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out
- Form 644-763
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer J M P Eustace
- Jockey P J Brennan
with leader, led approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, hard ridden after last, kept on gamely to regain lead towards finish
- Form P/14609-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Adrian Wintle
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 6761-17
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
held up towards rear, headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, led approaching and hit 2 out, hard ridden after last, kept on and headed towards finish
- Form 05-6F05
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Lee Edwards
mid-division, pushed along and behind from 3rd, soon struggling, never dangerous
- Form 12-6263
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 112
towards rear, ridden approaching 5th, soon struggling
- Form 4-21210
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up towards rear and keen, headway approaching to chase leaders when fell 6th
- Form 113
- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
prominent, ridden before 2 out, kept on from last, no extra towards finish
- Form 685
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up mid-division, raced wide from after 4th, headway before next to chase leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Sir Frank scored four times on good ground last year but makes his handicap debut from a stiff mark. Henry King has been raised 6lb for his success over the C&D three weeks ago and will find this much tougher while King's Revenge doesn't win often enough. Karky Schultz attempted to make all at Kempton last time and only succumbed at the last. He can go well here and easily has the beating of Via Galilei, Simply Blue and Babilu on that form. Tenor Nivernais, a dual winner in France, made a bright start for Venetia Williams at Wincanton and looks a threat to all but a chance is taken on PICOT DE SAY, five times a winner over timber and well enough handicapped to take this at his best despite a long absence. Ocean Transit is another to consider in an open event.
Formwatch
Causeway King (USA) 28-1 (10-6) Took keen hold, chased leaders, under pressure before 7th, weakened soon after, 9th of 15, 38l behind Dynaste (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Sir Frank (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Made most, ridden approaching last, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Society Venue (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Henry King (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Made all, ridden and strongly pressed last, driven and stayed on gamely flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating American Ladie (11-10) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
My Shamwari (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, 12th of 17, 29l behind L'Accordioniste (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
King's Revenge 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Minnie Hill (10-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Simply Blue 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, never near leaders, 9th of 16, 27l behind Ski Sunday (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Karky Schultz (GER) 40-1 (10-9) Made most, ridden and headed 2 out, edged left under pressure approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Ski Sunday (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Picot de Say 14-1 (10-8) Held up never dangerous, last of 9, 49l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Dec '09.
Via Galilei (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division on inside, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 7th of 16, 25l behind Ski Sunday (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Troubletimestwo (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 31l behind Warne's Way (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Ocean Transit (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) In touch on inside, led briefly approaching 4 out, regained lead before next, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner when hit and lost 2nd soon after last, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Warne's Way (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Babilu 12-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, held up in rear, some headway into mid-division 3 out, weakened from next, 13th of 16, well behind Ski Sunday (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, closed 5th, went 3rd approaching last, kept on flat, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Minnie Hill (10-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Teshali (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, every chance 4 out, under pressure before next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 30l behind Gibb River (11-12) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.