Racecards
16:50 Taunton
Bell Inn At Watchet Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
- Form 75P350
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A Stronge
- Jockey D F O'Regan
hit 1st, chased leaders, pushed along bend after 5th, weakened and mistake next, no chance when blundered badly 4 out, tailed off
- Form 2119/PP
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer C J Gray
- Jockey C Gethings
held up in touch, blundered 5th and ridden, weakened and mistake next, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
- Form 439657
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer T R Gretton
- Jockey James Reveley
pressed winner, led 4th until 6th, hit next, led again 4 out, clear before next, ridden between last two, blundered last, headed run-in, not recover
- Form 5/P-0453
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer B Barr
- Jockey Harry Bannister
tracked leaders, driven along and one pace in 4th after 4 out, no impression
- Form 1-2442P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Kevin Jones
chased leading pair, mistake 5th, pushed along bend soon after, driven along after 4 out, no impression when mistake 3 out, blundered next
- Form 112223
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey L Heard
led until 4th, pressed leader, led again 6th until went left and headed 4 out, ridden and looked held before 3 out, rallied as leader blundered last, led again run-in, driven out
- Form 656/PP4
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 71
never travelled or jumped with any fluency in rear, mistake 3rd, reminder and struggling after next, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Ballyegan is moderate but at least is consistent and that should be enough to get him into the frame in this lowly handicap though he's running over a trip a long way short of his best. Green Du Ciel is still a maiden over fences but ran his best race so far here last month and has to enter the equation. Barenger hasn't progressed as anticipated after his victory at Market Rasen over a year ago so the vote in a poor contest goes to THE INFORMANT (NAP), who was in excellent form at this time a year ago and was unable to handle very testing ground and a longer trip at Plumpton last time.
Formwatch
Barenger (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, blundered 6 out, weakened from 4 out, soon tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Smart Catch (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Bushwacker (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Chased leading pair, not fluent 5th, 2nd next until before 8th, weakened 9th, tailed off when blundered badly 4 out and pulled up, in a race won by Midnight Lira (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Jackthejourneyman (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 8th, outpaced 4 out, pecked 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 26l behind Chance Encounter (11-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Dec.
Green Du Ciel (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leader until 3rd after 5th, outpaced and in rear 7th, rallied 2 out, stayed on into 3rd towards finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Diamond Tammy (10-10) at Taunton 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
The Informant 3-1 (10-12) Behind, mistake 1st, detatched after 4th, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Petit Ecuyer (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Ballyegan (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) Led until after 3 out, lost 2nd before next, soon one pace in 3rd and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Flemi Two Toes (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Feb.
Vering (FR) 5-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, not always fluent, headway on outside 7th, outpaced 4 out, well held from next, 4th of 7, 21l behind Little Jimmy (10-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Feb.