Racecards
16:20 Taunton
No Half Measures Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 75-9570
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mainly towards rear, tailed off after 3 out
Free To Air
75- Form 7-48
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey D P O'Dwyer
held up towards rear, headway 5th, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
- Form F35-PP4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division, hit 4th, ridden after next, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
- Form BU4-P31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey M D Grant
tracked leaders, led after 2 out, in command when hit last, idled and edged left final 50 yards, ridden out
- Form 452PF9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey A O'keeffe
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 900
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer C P Morlock
- Jockey R Cochrane
chased leaders until weakened 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Monzon (FR)
27- Form 445563
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 94
led until 6th, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
- Form 800/046
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Robert Colgan
held up behind, smooth headway 3 out, close 4th 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on from last, went 2nd towards finish
- Form 53430F
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 99
tracked leader, led 6th, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, kept on same pace
Hearty Dove
68- Form 973-R64
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 82
keen, tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, soon one pace
Maximix
104- Form F55-445
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
Nonrunner
Triple Bluff
11- Form 447-9F2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey Mr C Huxley
Nonrunner
- Form 52180
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 90
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
A wide open handicap with plenty of deadwood and we will plump for recent winner Jigsaw Dancer ahead of Triple Bluff and Maximix. Andrew Turnell has his horses running well at present in the build up to the festival and Jigsaw Dancer won very well when last seen 72 days ago. The form of that win looks solid enough and whilst he will get further in time, he can score again over this trip. If the quicker ground goes against him then the main danger may be Triple Bluff who ran well in defeat last time out and has the in-form Charlie Huxley in the saddle, whilst Free To Air needs watching in the betting on this handicap debut. Maximix hasn't shown much on his two most recent runs but he has been given a three month break and needs a check in the betting along with David Pipe's Full Of Grace. Swampy Blue and Plume D'Oudaires are two more who have bits of form which mean they must be respected, with the latter travelling over from Ireland for this although his trainer's exploits are well documented and arguably over-bet now. A very open race where the betting should provide some major clues, however we will stick with Jigsaw Dancer.
Formwatch
Sir Rique (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, no headway from 3 out, 13th of 19, 20l behind Ede's (9-7) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Free To Air 25-1 (11-0) In touch, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened quickly, 8th of 11, well behind Song of Songs (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Plume d'Oudairies (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and one-paced on long run after 2 out, 4th of 13, 8l behind Topflight Wildbird (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Thistle 33-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 16, 10l behind I'm A Legend (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Jigsaw Dancer (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, led after 3 out, jumped right and mistake next, ran on, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Dec beating Ocarito (11-2) by 6l, 17 ran.
Command Marshal (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, never dangerous, 9th of 19, 15l behind Ede's (9-7) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Bull Market (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Mistake 3rd, always towards rear, 14th of 18, well behind Song of Songs (11-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Monzon (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden when mistake 2 out, headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Something's Up (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Swampy Blue (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) In rear, headway after halfway, 6th after 2 out, no impression straight, 6th of 21, 19l behind Road Runner (10-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hacp hdl gs in Feb.
Flying Grey (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Tracking leaders when pulled up at the 2nd in race won by Stagehand (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
Hearty Dove 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, under pressure 2 out, soon no impression, 4th of 12, 11l behind Eila (10-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Maximix 25-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and one pace next, 5th of 18, 23l behind Rapscallion (11-5) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Triple Bluff 22-1 (10-10) Held up last, headway after 3 out, stayed on well to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 16, 6l behind I'm A Legend (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Ful of Grace (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 14th of 16, well behind I'm A Legend (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.