Racecards
13:40 Taunton
Blue Chip Maiden Hurdle (Class E)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Dads Gift
212- Form 200-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Brown
- Jockey Antony Evans
mistake 1st, held up in touch, reminders 3rd, weakened after 5th
- Form PP-PPP0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
prominent, ridden 5th, lost place
- Form P42360
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
led, not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon headed, stayed on one pace
- Form 3-P5045
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out
- Form P-0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
pulled early and held up towards rear, ridden 6th, soon weakened
- Form 60
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after
- Form 42
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Flynn
tracked leaders, headway on bit to lead 2 out, quickened clear approaching last, easily
Medici (FR)
23- Form 4/60-P3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ms Bridget Nicholls
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
pulled hard, prominent, good headway on bit to lead on inside after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, not pace of winner
Pat N Dec
29- Form 66-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey A Scholes
held up in mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 5th, staying on one pace when blundered last, not recover
Tomsk (IRE)
344- Form P-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Karen George
- Jockey A Honeyball
pulled hard and held up last, always behind
Teenager
4- Form 50-P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer P Wegmann
- Jockey J Goldstein
towards rear, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 6th
In depth
Verdict
The Bridget Nicholls-trained Medici showed improved form when belying odds of 66/1 to finish a creditable third behind Salsalino at Exeter last month, and has to be respected on that evidence, but the six-year-old probably needs to improve again to trouble McBain, who gets the vote with Pat N Dec rated the best of the remainder. The selection was easily the best of these to run on the flat and looks to have the pick of the hurdles form as well having stepped up on an encouraging debut effort when chasing home The Market Man at Kempton earlier this month. A reproduction of that effort should suffice for the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding who is preferred to Pat N Dec. The Ian Williams-trained gelding showed promise in two starts in bumpers and again on his hurdling debut and is worth a look in the market. Gin 'n' Fonic and Hail The King are both becoming rather exposed and of more interest among the remainder is the newcomer Gems Bond, who was capable on the flat. However, McBain sets a decent standard and will be tough to beat.