Racecards
14:40 Taunton
Levy Board January Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Form 2-54612
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N Carter
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly
Aleemdar (IRE)
145- Form 221104
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Miss K Marks
- Jockey R Forristal
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 030-341
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer C Down
- Jockey Dave Crosse
ridden approaching 7th, one pace from next
- Form 6434
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer C Gray
- Jockey A Honeyball
led, ridden and headed after 7th, soon weakened
- Form 3-3131
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Robson
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, every chance next, one pace
Delphi
101- Form 8-45980
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R Biddlecombe
never dangerous
Turaath (IRE)
183- Form P11-2PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey A Bateman
held up, steady headway from 6th, led approaching last, edged left flat, ran on well
- Form 04/40-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
held up, headway approaching 3 out, 5th and ridden wn fell last
- Form 65427F
- Age 13
- Weight 11-3
always behind
- Form 50-5772
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer J King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
tracked leaders, led after 7th, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on flat
Joly Bois (FR)
287- Form PP4-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
hampered 5th, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on
- Form 8554/P4-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Karen George
- Jockey T J Phelan
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form P/71109
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer Mrs D Hamer
- Jockey C Rafter
prominent, ridden after 6th, soon weakened
McFarline (IRE)
962- Form 877183/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer N Hawke
- Jockey L Tibbatts
hle up and behind when fell 6th
In depth
Verdict
If Oracle des Mottes wins the 1:40pm race, his conqueror at Hereford Do L'Enfant D'Eau is bound to be popular and will be difficult to beat. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding followed up that Hereford win with a respectable third to "good thing" Bongo Fury and Sandown before returning to winning ways at Folkestone last month. With further improvement to come, the four-year-old looks well treated off a mark of 104 for his handicap debut and could be worth a bet. Paul Nicholls should have a good line through the selection to his representative Jupon Vert. The topweight has been returned to hurdles this season having failed to take to fences last term. However, he does not appear particularly well treated under 11st 12lbs and looks opposable. Lizzys First has been raised 9lbs for his success at Hereford on Boxing Day and has more to do now. Martin Pipe's Mutanassib does not looked to have retained a great deal of enthusiasm and stablemate Joly Bois, who makes his first appearance of the season, looks the pick of the Pipe pair. Baileys Prize had some useful form on the level and is well treated if able to translate his flat ability to hurdles but, from admittedly limited opportunities, he does not look as good over timber.