Racecards
15:20 Taunton
Bathwick Tyres Midsomer Norton Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap) (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 40y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Winner: £5,697
- 2nd: £1,683
- 3rd: £842
- 4th: £421
- Form 31634P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
held up in rear, outpaced 10th, well beaten after 4 out, went 4th 2 out
- Form 10224-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Bowen
chased winner until after 10th, lost 3rd and weakened before 3 out
- Form P0-45P5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer David Dennis
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders, mistake 5th, went 2nd from 10th, no impression after 2 out, one pace
- Form P126-PP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey C Gethings
made all, not fluent 3 out, clear from next, stayed on
- Form 14-308U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
chased leaders, pushed along after 8th, outpaced 4 out, went well held 3rd before next
- Form 6/14449-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey T Scudamore
not always fluent in rear, behind 9th, pulled up before next
- Form 57-4524
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Non Runner
Nonrunner
Verdict
All of these have something to prove over the larger obstacles but Paul Nicholls has wasted little time in sending his Forestier gelding CONTRE TOUS over fences, a move which can gain reward here. On his first run for Ditcheat, the selection showed up well until fading from two out, a satisfactory effort after 11 months off the track. His French hurdling form was promising and he's always looked a chaser in the making. In On The Act, Speredek and Big Windmill all failed to complete last time while Wade Harper has hitherto failed to show anything like the form displayed over hurdles since going chasing. Monte Wildhorn has a major absence to overcome so The Geegeez Geegee could prove the main danger off this lowly perch, though is another yet to repeat his hurdling form over fences.
Formwatch
In On The Act 11-1 (11-8) Soon well behind, mistake and struggling 10th, tailed off when mistake next, pulled up after 4 out, at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Contre Tous (FR) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 13, 22 3/4l behind Casper King (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Wade Harper (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 14th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 34l behind I Just Know (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Speredek (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off and pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Big Windmill (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, clippped heels stumbled and unseated rider after 4th, at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Monte Wildhorn (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, lost place 4th, well behind from next, 9th of 10, dist behind King Muro (10-13) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gf in Sep.
The Geegeez Geegee (IRE) 10-3 (10-10) Tended to jump right, led until 7th, chased leader, led again after 4 out, driven and headed next where every chance, chased leader, ridden before 2 out, jumped slowly and lost 2nd 2 out, no extra in 4th approaching last, 4th of 5, 13 1/2l behind Theatre Mill (11-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.