Racecards
14:40 Taunton
Hippychick Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 03-5221
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leader, led 4 out, not fluent 2 out or last, comfortably
- Form 9300-2F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
led, headed 4 out, hit next, soon ridden, no impression from last
Dark Oasis
53- Form 306756
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D L Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up in last, behind from 5th, tailed off
- Form 517233-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
tracked leaders, jumped left at times, lost touch 6th, went badly left 3 out
Verdict
One In A Milan won a maiden hurdle in Ireland just over a year ago and performed with credit in handicaps subsequently. He was always likely to do better over fences and is one to keep an eye on. Dare Me, twice a winning hurdler and bumper, made too many mistakes on his chasing bow at Ludlow but still managed to finish close up behind Carrigmorna King. He couldn't have been fancied to beat Simonsig in a Grade 2 at Ascot on his next start but may have been unfortunate to come down when the leader fell in front of him. He should make a nice chaser but at this stage CANTLOW may prove too strong. Paul Webber's charge, who finished a close third in the Pertemps Hurdle Final at Cheltenham, looked as though a longer trip would suit when narrowly beaten on his first two starts over fences then defied a mistake to score in convincing style at Plumpton.
Formwatch
Cantlow (IRE) 5-4 (11-0) Tracked leader, blundered 4 out, led 2 out, ran on, readily, won at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec beating Oscara Dara (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Dare Me (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chasing leaders when fell 7th, in a race won by Simonsig (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.
Dark Oasis 40-1 (10-13) Led and keen, not fluent and headed 6th, remained close up until weakened before 3 out, 6th of 16, 31l behind Typhon De Guye (11-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
One In A Milan (IRE) 11-2fav (11-12) Prominent, no impression in 3rd approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 23, 17l behind Sorted (10-1) at Cork 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 80-116 in Apr.
Bobcatbilly (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace, 7th of 15, 8l behind Tanerko Emery (11-11) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.