Taunton Preview

TAUNTON stages a seven race card on Tuesday with six of the seven races sponsored by Bathwick Tyres. The recent freeze means that, all respect to Taunton, the card is higher quality than may have been expected.

Triumph hopeful Urbain De Sivola
(Photo: hoguenet.com)

It gets underway at 2:00 with a novice hurdle. Urbain De Sivola looks the one to beat. He slammed Ranjaan last time and he has won twice since (third and fourth also are subsequent winners) so that suggests he will be hard to beat here.

Dualla Lord is dropping down in distance for the first time after failing to live up to expectations but with Paul Nicholls’ stable under a bit of a cloud (only 1 weekend winner) he is easily passed over.

Ifyouletmefinish may give Nick Williams’ charge most to do. He was not disgraced behind either Pearl Swan or Grumeti over course and distance on his last two runs. Those coming from the point-to-point scene could play a part as could Giordano Bruno but the Phillip Hobbs is without a winner in February.

A Class5 Handicap Hurdle at 2:30 sees Changing Lanes, who landed one of the biggest gambles of the season when successful last week at Southwell, appear under a penalty. That seven pound is negated by useful amateur Mr J F Mathias who has ridden 10 winners for David Rees in the last three seasons.

He is still well below a previous winning mark and will be expected to win. Hobbs Dream won well over C&D last time but has since been hit with an 11 pound rise in the weights. Gentleman Jimmy was behind him that day but the swing in the weights should see them finish closer this time.

Eight time winner Cannon Fire and the relatively unexposed and first time blinkered Cosway Spirit are others to consider.

The poor but competitive Handicap Chase is difficult to sort out at 3:05. The Colin Tizzard yard had a brilliant weekend and Wosayu ran ok on his penultimate start but was last of three on heavy ground last time. With first time blinkers and back on better ground he could make the frame.

Kinkeel has been tilting at windmills on some of his starts this season, jumping around to pick up the scraps of prize money in the top events. He was beaten four times in this company in January but as always with the Tony Carroll yard look out for the market movement.

Alldunnandusted is still a maiden over the larger obstacles but with three hurdle wins should be involved in a race as lowly as this. Piran has shown nothing since moving house but has place claims on old form.

The 3:40 is a far more interesting contest. Sire De Grugy was fourth in the Betfair Hurdle on Friday and if he turns out again is very much the one to be on.

The Phillip Hobbs and Paul Nicholls stables did not fire to their usual high standard on the weekend but it would be foolish to leave Dare Me and Edgardo Sol out of calculations. The latter has been a model of consistency in big handicaps all season and with Harry Derham claiming seven could be dangerous.

Dare Me: chance after decent return run
(Photo blogs.bettor.com)

Dare Me is high quality and after a satisfactory reappearance it would be no great shock to see him end the stables mini drought. Alan King’s stable has no such form worries and Devil To Pay is a definite each way contender off a low weight.

Dee Ee Williams has been off since last March and off 147 this is too hot on reappearance. Higgy’s Rigazzo probably is not as good as many of these but Henderson’s representatives always deserve respect.

The verdict is if Sire De Grugy turns up he is the most solid option with Dare Me next best.

As I mentioned earlier Bathwick Tyres sponsor the card but will head man Wayne Clifford be winning back some of his prize money at 4:15?

Bathwick Junior is his representative; she showed some in her earlier races but after three tailed off efforts in novice hurdles moves into handicap company in first time cheekpieces.

One who has improved for the move to handicap company is Clever Dick. He had excuses last time but with a tongue tie on and Paddy Brennan an interesting booking, David Pipe’s inmate looks the one to beat.

There is no need to look beyond a couple in the Pontispool Equine Sports Centre Hunters´ Chase at 4:45. Templar has far and away better form than any of these and indeed is 17 pounds superior rated to his nearest rivals but concedes nowhere near that weight. He should take this with the minimum of fuss.

Divine Intavention beat the laboured Bob Hall last May and could be the one to chase him home if at his best.

The Bumper at 5:20 concludes the card but with little information on the horses I am choosing to avoid it.

BEST BET- URBAIN DE SIVOLA + CLEVER DICK Double