Racecards
15:40 Taunton
Orchard Portman Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £14,000 added
- Form P14361
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
prominent, joined leader 7th, not fluent 9th, ridden behind leaders 2 out, ran on well to go 2nd from last
- Form F/4-4533
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey L Heard
mid-division, ridden 9th and weakened 3 out
- Form PF9-11P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Miss H Lewis
- Jockey A Glassonbury
ran out, led until ran out and unseated rider 1st
- Form 324131
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up last, ridden and headway 3 out, ran on from 2 out
Seeador
67- Form 20-1P32
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
left in lead 1st, headed after 7th, ridden 9th, soon weakened
- Form 2-43333
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out
- Form 022-126
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey P J Brennan
prominent, led after 7th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 1P4P6P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 103
in touch, chased leaders 7th, one pace from 2 out
- Form 929642
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey J Tizzard
always toward rear, weakened 8th
- Form 443131
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey Mr Felix De Giles
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
- Form RR2-540
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer B J M Ryall
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
chased leader, lost place after 4th, ridden and weakened 8th
- Form 134354
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J S Smith
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, led 2 out, driven clear from last, comfortably
- Form 47-153
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer C Llewellyn
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Highland Games, Christdalo and Celtic Major are the three to concentrate on in this novices' handicap hurdle and the vote is given to Highland Games. The selection certainly looks to be on an upward curve on the evidence of his most recent success when he comfortably defied a hike in the weights to get the better of Xellance. He proved that day that he sees out this trip and he should be hard to beat. Christdalo won easily at Folkestone last time but this mare has shown all her best form on testing ground and for that reason she is opposed today. Celtic Major was pulled-up when last seen out at the Cheltenham festival and although they were clearly aiming too high by sending this horse to the festival, he showed when beating Abragante at Wincanton that he does have plenty of ability. Rockys Girl is a course and distance winner and this mare will certainly be staying-on at the finish. However, Highland Games is improving with his racing and can take this event in his stride.
Formwatch
Christdalo (IRE) 2-11fav (11-7) Led 1st, jumped into clear lead 7th, heavily eased flat, canter, won at Folkestone 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Migigi (11-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Mister Knight (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, hit 2 out, one pace last, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Shannon Springs (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Celtic Major (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Led until after 4th, gradually faded from 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Wichita Lineman (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs, 20 ran.
Highland Games (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-9) Held up, headway after 6th, ridden and slightly outpaced 4 out, led 3 out, finished tired, won at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs beating Xellance (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Seeador 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Knighton Lad (11-9) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Artipreuil (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind River Ripples (10-13) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 2-1 (11-3) Led, headed 3rd, led again 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 26l behind Double Dizzy (11-1) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Wrags To Riches (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Hampered 1st, chased leaders, weakened under pressure 8th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Umbrella Man (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Joli Classical (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, every chance when mistake last, kept on close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Venice Road (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Rockys Girl 4-1 (10-8) Held up behind, smooth progress from 8th, tracked leaders after 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb beating Arctic Glow (9-9) by 5l, 14 ran.
Heisamodel (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden 8th, soon weakened, 12th of 19, well behind Thenford Star (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Fine By Me (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 2nd, headway 8th, never dangerous, 4th of 16, 26l behind Keen Warrior (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
For All Mankind 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 7th, clear 2 out, headed last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Supreme Cara (10-8) at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Whosethatfor (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, some progress 6th, weakened after next and pulled up 3 out in race won by Scarlet Mix (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft, 12 ran.