Racecards
15:15 Taunton
C & D Southwest Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 198y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,549
- 2nd: £1,336
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
- Form 1U1571
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer P W Middleton
- Jockey H Cobden
in touch, outpaced 4 out, went modest 4th before 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leaders
- Form 411331
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Katy Price
- Jockey James Nixon
slowly away, behind, headway into 2nd approaching 4th, led 8th, drew clear before 2 out, 7 lengths advantage last, ridden and hung left flat, idled final 110 yards, headed towards finish
- Form 54413P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 117
led to 8th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Handsome Sam
69- Form 62148
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer A King
- Jockey W Featherstone
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
- Form PP-11U2
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Mr Tommie M O'Brien
chased leaders, lost place after 7th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out
- Form 31835-6
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Mrs E Bishop
- Jockey James Banks
in touch on inside, headway 8th, ridden and outpaced by front pair after 3 out, no chance before next, weakened into 5th flat
- Form 73-7312
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey David Noonan
in touch on outside, driven to chase leader after 3 out, outpaced before next, 7 lengths down last, ridden and stayed on to lead towards finish
- Form 11437P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey Mr L Drowne
chased leaders, reminder when lost place and behind after 7th, struggling before 3 out, stayed on to take modest 3rd closing stages, no chance with front pair
- Form 1/1-829
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer P Gundry
- Jockey T J O'Brien
prominent, lost place 6th, reminders after next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after next
- Form 331-FPP
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
held up in touch, modest 4th when ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Church Field has been second over 3m but all of his wins have come over shorter trips, including his latest at Warwick. Horace Hazel stays well and is from a yard that can get one ready at home so his absence since July last year is not a huge concern. David Noonan takes off a valuable 5lb which means he is getting weight from last month's course and distance winner MINELLACELEBRATION but Katy Price's charge also has a claimer on board and can double up. Handsome Sam would have a chance on his best form and Fivefortyfive could be interesting making his handicap debut off a lowly mark.
Formwatch
Church Field (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 2 out, soon ridden, driven clear run-in, won at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Join The Navy (11-6) by 6l, 12 ran.
Minellacelebration (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Led 2nd, made rest, riddden before last, kept on well run-in, won at Taunton 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Present Man (11-10) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Absolutlyfantastic 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, lost place before 3 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Handsome Sam 9-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after next, 7th and struggling 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, dist behind Abricot De L'oasis (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Lord Heathfield (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 11th, pushed along and outpaced in 5th after 3 out, kept on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 14, 12l behind Nowurhurlin (12-6) at Warwick 2m 4f (6) sft in Mar.
Church Hall (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, dist behind Driftashore (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Horace Hazel 3-1fav (10-13) Mid-division on outside, closed after 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenging when hampered 2 out, stayed on, held close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Decimus (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Tokyo Javilex (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Behind when badly hampered and rider lost iron 8th, pulled up before next, at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Fivefortyfive 16-1 (11-1) Prominent, lost place before 7th, soon behind, 9th of 17, dist behind Walking In The Air (11-1) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Mar.
Seranwen (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up behind, blundered 7th and 8th, pulled up before 8 out, at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Mar.