Racecards
17:30 Taunton
Racing Post 'hands And Heels' Handicap Hurdle (conds/amat) (Class 4)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form FPP/96-0
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A Bateman
- Jockey Mr J Proctor
refused to race
- Form 284113
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Jim Best
- Jockey D P O'Dwyer
mid-division, headway 5th, chased leader 3 out, led after, headed 2 out, no extra
- Form 1-41575
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
mid-division, ridden and effort 6th, 3rd and going well when hampered bend after 3 out, not recover
- Form 208337
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 100
towards rear, ridden and headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, one pace
- Form 4-236
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 99
towards rear, ridden 6th, soon weakened
- Form 460
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M Hill
- Jockey Matt Crawley
prominent, led after 4th, ridden and headed 6th, soon weakened
- Form 4-617PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey Mr A Merriam
chased leader, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 51-2399
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mrs N Pook
- Jockey B J Toomey
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened next
- Form PP0F-P5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer R Curtis
- Jockey Mr S P Hanson
in touch, led 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened
Triple Bluff
54- Form 9447-9F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey Mr C Huxley
held up last, headway after 3 out, stayed on well to go 2nd close home
- Form 96P-087
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J L Needham
- Jockey C J Davies
led to 6th, soon ridden, weakened next
- Form 0P0-R22
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer D P Keane
- Jockey Mr J Guerriero
mid-division, headway 3 out, led 2 out, driven clear flat
Dovedale
77- Form 224337
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Ian Popham
chased leader, led after 2nd to 6th, kept on one pace
- Form 4530P0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Mr D R Cook
mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out
- Form 5218
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Mr C Wallis
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
A wide open handicap hurdle rounds off the card and there is very little between many of the leading lights but the main protagonists look to be I'm A Legend, Three Ships and Sandymac and the tentative vote is given to I'm A Legend. The selection was a fair second behind Mossmann Gorge last time out could improve for the fitting of first time cheekpecies and off the same mark here he looks a value bet in an open affair. Three Ships rates the main danger on his latest third behind Najca De Thaix but he now looks weighted up to his best and is taken on with this in mind. Sandymac was a fair fifth behind Kenetic Power last time on ground that was softer than ideal and with his yard in form he has definite place claims. Donatessa is unexposed and with his useful conditional taking off a handy six pounds he is another that will not be far away. Ful of Grace could go well off her light weight while Thistle looks well weighted on his best form but is hard to win with and with this in mind I'm A Legend is given one last chance to get his head in front.
Formwatch
Forever Dream 50-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Palomar (9-13) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Three Ships 7-4fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led 3 out, not fluent last, soon headed, no extra, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Najca De Thaix (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Sandymac (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) In touch, chased winner 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 12, 28l behind Kinetic Power (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
General Smith 9-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, headway approaching 2nd, lost place 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 16, 19l behind Moon Star (11-9) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Donatessa (GER) 9-2 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place when mistake 4 out, no danger after, 6th of 10, 29l behind Thehonourablelady (11-2) at Doncaster 2m mrs hcp hdl (3) gf in Dec.
Thistle 11-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on flat, 5th of 14, 3l behind Fantasy Legend (10-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Ryedale Ovation (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Always in rear, 12th of 14, well behind Super Formen (10-7) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Brown Fox (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Prominent early, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Wun Chai (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs, 21 ran.
Shropshirelass 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 18, 12l behind Chinara (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Near Germany (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Held up, headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 16, 15l behind Numide (11-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Triple Bluff 50-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden when fell 2 out in race won by Mous Of Men (11-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Bellassini 100-1 (10-11) Led until 5th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 32l behind Abstract Art (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
I'm A Legend 5-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and chased leaders approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Mossmann Gorge (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Dovedale 6-1 (10-12) Led, headed 5th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 9l behind Brousse En Feux (11-2) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Avant Gardiste (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, 14th of 21, well behind Wun Chai (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Ful of Grace (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, led next, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 25l behind Eila (10-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.