Racecards
16:30 Taunton
Command & Logistics Company 40 Cdo Royal Marines Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,500 added
- Winner: £4,453
- 2nd: £1,298
- 3rd: £649
- Form 46-2FP1
- Age 6
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
led, clear before 3rd, headed soon after 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 3337P3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up in rear but in touch, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, soon struggling, never dangerous
- Form 2-8FP53
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 104
held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, soon no impression
- Form 70-8152
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
tracked leaders, every chance 4 out, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened before last
- Form F/43-515
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey L Treadwell
tracked leader, led 4 out, challenged 3 out, soon clear ran on strongly
- Form 454727
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Mr Tom David
soon in touch, hard driven 4 out, chased leaders when mistake next, soon no impression
In depth
Verdict
Back on a right-handed track, trail-blazer Jeczmien could be interesting despite weakening quickly once headed at Warwick last time and finishing behind Playing With Fire. Fakenham winner Lord Singer looks vulnerable under a penalty however while Holyrood, only placed once in eight starts over timber, is probably best watched on his chasing bow. The Darling Boy was in good form in the autumn but returns from a break so the vote goes to AKARSHAN. Evan Williams' six-year-old needs to brush up his jumping but almost certainly found 3m1f too far at Fakenham last month and still has time on his side.
Formwatch
Lord Singer (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Pulled hard, made all, hard ridden after 2 out, kept on under pressure, won at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan beating Prince Des Marais (11-8) by 8l, 6 ran.
Akarshan (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, under pressure before 4 out, soon no impression, weakening when lost 2nd approaching last, 3rd of 5, 26l behind Evella (10-4) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (5) sft in Jan.
Playing With Fire (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up, jumped right 1st, headway 5th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Folie A Deux (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
The Darling Boy 13-2 (10-10) Held up, not fluent early, closed 8th, went 3rd when mistake 4 out, took 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Film Festival (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Jeczmien (POL) 9-2 (11-4) Led, jumped right 3rd, 4th and 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 5th of 6, 7l behind Folie A Deux (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Holyrood 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened well before 3 out, last of 7, well behind Crank Hill (11-4) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.