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

TAUNTON PREVIEW TUESDAY

THERE IS a respectable card on offer at Taunton on Tuesday. There are seven races for us to get through.

I don’t think many of you who will be going will risk a speeding ticket to make the first at 1:40 –the Alpha Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Conditional Jockeys´ Handicap Hurdle.

The younger animals in it are well exposed and perhaps the most interesting contender is Venetia Williams’s Sendinpost. Once she got into the straight she flew home to only be beaten under 10 lengths after looking like a distant third was on the cards. The step up to three miles plus will suit and the trainer has been in great form all month.

That’s Some Milan looked like the winner on his handicap debut after the return from his layoff  having traded at 4/6 in running. That was his first run for Ian Willliams and is expected to be fitter for that and looks a strong contender here.

The others have plenty to prove but the market may be a good help in solving this one.

The 2:10 Bravo Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Novices´ Hurdle on past evidence looks to lie between useful flat performers Alwaary and Dildar. The former now with Rebecca Curtis contesting pattern company nine times when with John Gosden and won in listed company at three.

Will you be risking Sanctuaire? (picture:Getty Images)

Dildar was fouth behind Pour Moi in a quick time affair at Saint Cloud in May, a race that contained French Derby second Bubble Chic and Group2 winner Vadamar. Paul Nicholls’s inmate will be the likely favourite considering he is getting weight all round.

The others are not without a chance and Constant Contact, Sew On Target and Tymford could all play a part.

For just five runners the Charlie Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Novices´ Chase at 2:40 is a good looking race. Sanctuaire returns to the venue where he burst onto the scene with a comfortable defeat of the then unknown Grand Crus. He now tackles the larger obstacles after two disappointing runs over hurdles.

The fact the Ruby Walsh takes the ride gives confidence but it is difficult to invest in him given his enigmatic nature. Easter Meteor got off the mark last time with a comfortable win to live up to the expectation placed on him by his useful relatives. Though, he probably will not be able to dictate up front this time around.

Shammick Boy took a heavy fall last time and on last season’s hurdle form he would be right in the shake up here. The trainer did not start the year with the customary excellent run of form and that is a negative.

Since injury Midnight Sail seems to have lost his form that saw his finish sixth in an Albert Bartlett and is best watched here.

The 2m1f Delta Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Handicap Hurdle at 3:10 has two extremely interesting handicap debutants, Ted Spread and Ifyouletmefinish, there was not much between the pair behind Grumeti over course and distance in December.

Jeremy Scott’s representative was since a four length second to Pearl Swan (conceding 11lbs) and may reverse form with the former St Ledger hope.

Of the slightly more experienced brigade, Double Handful has proved just that since moving to Lawney Hill and with two easy victories and a 19 pound rise he still has plenty to offer.

Double Handful has moved from Venetia Williams but she now has Monetary Fund formerly with Nicky Henderson. With the exception of last year’s Cheltenham run the six year old has never been far away at the business end, that said a mark of 130 on seasonal reappearance is probably beyond him.

The value of the race may lie with Pantxoa. The King-Hutchinson pairing has been in red hot form with a four wins and two places from their last seven runners. Pantxoa did not go well up in trip last time but he was highly regarded by Alan King before the novice season did not quite go to plan. If he puts in his usual solid run he looks good for a place here.

Pascha Bere is another who may be worth considering with the cheekpieces back on (last win came with them on).

Again a case can be made for a great deal of runners in the 3:40 Command And Logistics Company 40 Commando Royal Marines Handicap Hurdle. Val Mondo is currently at the head of the market on account of his running on fourth behind the handy Poole Master at Lingfield and the current vein of form of the stable.

Is It Me has two ways of going and despite his colossal price probably isn’t the worst 50-1 shot you will see. Woodlark Island is on a dangerous mark but may be one for the drier ground in a few weeks time.

Arctic Watch clearly doesn’t take a lot of racing but holds frame claims and despite still being a maiden one that looks certain to play a part at the finish is Anay Turge who was second to subsequent winners the last twice.

Venetia Williams;
multiple chances
(picture: racing post)

The 4:10 Go Commando Handicap Chase has attracted a few whom are dropping in grade. By the time this rolls around Venetia Williams may have already had a good day but Renard looks her best hope tomorrow.

Fifth and fourth on his last two starts when fading late, the drop in trip will suit. Another who will appreciate the shorter distance is Nomecheki, he completely dropped the anchor last time at the third last. Before that he was fourth in the 32 Red Chase at Sandown and a reproduction of that would see him make the places at least.

Frankie Figg appears at his best over the national fences and it is hard to have Star Galaxy off a career high rating aged 12 and a single figure price despite his January brace of victories.

Renard looks the most solid option here.

There are a few stables that do well with their newcomers in the represented in the 4:40 Dbs/Ebf Mares´ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race. The market and paddock watch is probably the best hope of unravelling this. I don’t have the answer so good luck.

BEST BETS – RENARD, PANTXOA (EW)