Racecards
16:10 Taunton
No Half Measures Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,500 added
- Form 35-4PF0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey D Laverty
led, soon clear, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, gradually faded
Ember Dancer
11- Form P092F7
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey W McCarthy
held up, ridden, headway approaching 6th, 5th and held when fell 2 out
- Form 534F61
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, headway 5th, led approaching 2 out, mistake last, ridden out
- Form 000
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer John G Carr
- Jockey M J Bolger
went right 1st, mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 616236
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
in touch, hampered 1st, slightly outpaced 3 out, stayed on flat
- Form 350-097
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Mrs S M Johnson
- Jockey T Siddall
in touch, ridden after 6th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 6/804
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
chased leader, led after 3 out, ridden, headed before next, kept on flat
- Form 4449P2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey Mr M Price
hampered and unseated rider 1st
Gouranga
68- Form 483
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey M Batchelor
chased leaders until weakened after 6th
- Form 0049P6
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer Karen George
- Jockey E Dehdashti
held up, ridden, headway after 3 out, kept on same pace from next
In depth
Verdict
Tony Carroll is back amongst the winners and he has strong claims in this contest running both Gouranga and Viscount Rossini, the last named gets our vote, with Compton Star also expected to go well. The selection landed his first ever victory last time when comfortably beating Sean Og. That was in a claimer, but he gets in this handicap on a very fair mark and looks the best option. Compton Star was well beaten in a similar race last time, but had decent enough form before that also in handicaps. If he puts his best foot forward today he should be in the shake up. Gouranga hasn't shown too much over hurdles as yet but isn't too bad a performer on the flat and does get in here on a very low mark. The pick of the remainder could be Mapilut du Moulin, but for the winner we return to Viscount Rossini.
Formwatch
Another Gale (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Always in rear, tailed off 3 out, 11th of 12, well behind Gala Evening (10-11) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Ember Dancer 14-1 (11-4) Held up last, headway 6th, went 3rd and hit 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 33l behind Saunders Road (10-10) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Viscount Rossini 25-1 (11-5) Lost irons until 2nd, mid-division, headway 5th, led flat, driven out, won at Leicester 2m nov clm hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Sean Og (11-4) by 3l, 15 ran.
Manor Law (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Never better than mid-division, 13th of 22, 34l behind Barcardero (11-2) at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Compton Star 4-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden 6th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 9, 30l behind Saunders Road (10-10) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Themanfromfraam 100-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 15, 29l behind Wyldello (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Sea You Madame 100-1 (10-7) Behind, went poor 4th after 3 out, 4th of 11, well behind Granit Jack (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Mapilut du Moulin (FR) 18-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Walton Way (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov sll hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Gouranga 4-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 7, well behind Tabora (11-7) at Wetherby 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Boom Or Bust (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) In touch, ridden behind leaders 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 33l behind Lady Maranzi (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.