Racecards
15:20 Taunton
Somerset Chamber Of Commerce Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,500 added
- Winner: £3,764
- 2nd: £1,097
- 3rd: £549
Hint Of Mint
43- Form 0314
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leader, led 2 out, hard ridden when idled and flashed tail after last, kept on
Cape Breton
31- Form 24/73
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey N de Boinville
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, never on terms
- Form 221112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
led until jumped slowly and headed 2 out, rallied last, stayed on well
- Form 43-67
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened next
- Form 958U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Harry Challoner
always behind, struggling 4th, soon beaten
Suffice (IRE)
268- Form F-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L J Young
- Jockey D C Costello
always in rear
Tide Runner
21- Form 0909/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey T J O'Brien
mid-division, slow 2nd, weakened 4th
- Form 7-39571
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, driven after 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, no extra flat
Obistar (FR)
18- Form 20
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey C O'Farrell
always towards rear
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey Paul Moloney
mid-division, weakened 4th, soon tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Massena is back over hurdles for the first time since scoring at Wincanton in November but he's been in very good form over fences, winning three and finishing second on the same number of occasions. He has every chance in this while Hint Of Mint won at Leicester in January and was taking on decent company at Exeter last time. Flat winner Roberto Pegasus has shown promise over hurdles but doesn't stand much racing and Cape Breton is probably less exposed. VERY NOBLE has been highly tried so far but showed his wellbeing by winning a jumpers' bumper last month. The runner-up scored over hurdles at Chepstow last week and Paul Nicholls' gelding can follow suit here.
Formwatch
Hint Of Mint 10-1 (11-9) Held up, last when not fluent 3rd, ridden after next, lost touch 6th, went 4th last, 4th of 5, 37l behind Vibrato Valtat (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f Listed nov hdl (1) hvy in Feb.
Cape Breton 50-1 (10-7) In touch, went 6th before 2 out, went 5th before last, kept on to take 3rd place run-in, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Volnay De Thaix (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Massena (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Led until 1st, chased winner, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and held, clear 2nd, 2nd of 5, 23l behind Sound Investment (10-9) at Taunton 2m (3) hvy in Feb.
Roberto Pegasus (USA) 7-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 26l behind Fergall (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Sand Artist (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Liberty One (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Suffice (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, fell 3 out, in a race won by Bob's World (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar '13, 16 ran.
Tide Runner 50-1 (11-0) Soon mid-division, closer order after halfway, 2nd 5f out, dropped to 5th and kept on same pace from over 2f out, 9th of 13, 28l behind Sallyanka (11-4) at Wexford 2m N H flat gf in May '11.
Very Noble (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, good headway on inside over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, quickened to lead final 100 yards, comfortably, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb beating Ginger Fizz (10-6) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Obistar (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 18, 41l behind Gentleman Jon (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
Shining Cross (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, edged left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Repetition (8-12) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Feb '13 (flat).