Racecards
15:50 Taunton
Bathwick Tyres Seniors' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 1y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Winner: £9,495
- 2nd: £2,805
- 3rd: £1,402
- 4th: £702
- Form 8P74-43
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 5th, not much room 7th, lost place next, well beaten from 2 out
- Form 141F-07
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in touch in rear, headway before 2 out, went 2nd and kept on flat, no impression on winner
- Form 2/313P2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
tracked leaders, lost place before 4th, closed 6th, hanging left from after next, weakened before 2 out
- Form 12/402-5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey L P Aspell
in touch towards rear, headway 3 out, chasing leaders next, no extra flat
- Form 8F-51P7
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr Lewis Gordon
led until 3 out, every chance when fell next
- Form 11-7372
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
prominent, not fluent 4th or 5th, soon lost place, about 5 lengths off leaders when hampered and unseated rider 2 out
- Form 323-543
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer M D I Usher
- Jockey P J Brennan
prominent, challenged after 5th, led 3 out, edged left after 2 out, headed when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 42/31-12
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, took keen hold, closed 4th, challenged 2 out, led before last, edged left and clear flat, ran on well
- Form 45-5214
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Miss J Du Plessis
- Jockey James Best
tracked leaders, every chance when stumbled 2 out, soon switched right, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 0/2-36P0
- Age 11
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Brendan Powell
held up in touch in rear, headway on inside 7th, ridden and struggling after next
In depth
Verdict
An interesting contest with Dell'Arca expected to go well, despite top weight, after showing his best for some time when third behind Doesyourdogbite in a competitive Boxing Day handicap at Kempton. But it wouldn't surprise if he's being prepared with a Festival handicap in mind and he's just passed over on this occasion with the lightly-raced VERNI preferred. Philip Hobbs' gelding has only taken in four starts over timber but is proving progressive and his latest runner-up effort behind the greatly-improved Clyne reads very well. Winning Spark has a fine record around here and commands respect along with another course and distance winner in Here's Herbie. A return to anywhere around his best would also see Willow's Saviour in the shake-up.
Formwatch
Dell' Arca (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led and went left 2 out, 2 lengths ahead when went badly left and hit last, hung left and headed run-in, soon lost 2nd, one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Doesyourdogbite (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Willow's Saviour 33-1 (10-10) Held up in last trio, some late moderate headway, never threatened, 7th of 14, 33 1/4l behind Theligny (10-4) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Remiluc (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, challenged last, stayed on, held close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mr Fitzroy (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Oscarteea (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, well in touch 5th, ridden after 3 out, no impression approaching last, kept on flat, 5th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Stamp Your Feet (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Roadie Joe (IRE) 33-1 (12-7) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 35 3/4l behind Kk Lexion (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Here's Herbie 12-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, on outside, pushed along and outpaced after 7th, rallied before next, every chance when left 2nd 3 out, ridden and one pace between last two, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Space Oddity (10-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Spice Fair 12-1 (10-11) Held up, in rear, in touch 9th, disputing 3rd and one pace before last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Cogry (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Verni (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Clyne (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Winning Spark (USA) 10-1 (11-6) Held up, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, plugging on but no chance when left modest 4th after the last, 4th of 10, 16 1/2l behind Space Oddity (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Barizan (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Slight lead until 4th, chased leader, not fluent 4 out, lost 2nd well before next, weakened quickly, tailed off, 12th of 14, dist behind Theligny (10-4) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.