Racecards
15:50 Taunton
S.i.s. Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 810521
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer R Curtis
- Jockey Charlie Studd
held up last, headway approaching 6th, lost place approaching 7th, soon weakened
Gustavo
9- Form 0011P-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
held up in touch, headway after 7th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, clear last, eased flat
- Form 352841
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Mr C Wallis
led after 1st, ridden and headed 7th, weakened 3 out
Kenwyn
38- Form 7697
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer K Bishop
- Jockey D P O'Dwyer
always towards rear, no impression
- Form 34-6162
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up towards rear, headway and led 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching 2 out, no extra from last
- Form 99P-673
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, stayed on to go 4th from 2 out
- Form 3P585P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer N R Mitchell
- Jockey T Scudamore
led 1st, with leader until led 7th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
- Form F5338
- Age 4
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 95
held up in mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 7th, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, kept on well to go 2nd flat
- Form F07-P89
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Miss S J Wilton
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
Nonrunner
Jabo (FR)
44- Form 78-798
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Tony Evans
Nonrunner
Verdict
Another race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Gustavo, Fleetwood Forest, and Tavalu and the narrow vote is given to Gustavo. The selection won with a little in hand last time out Moon Star and although rising in the weights he looks a progressive type and he is taken to defy the handicaper under conditions that suit. Fleetwood Forest rates the main danger as he also won well last time when beating Mathodical but that was his first run he a while and he may bounce so he is taken on with this in mind. Coppermalt is another last time out winner that could go well but all his best form is over a longer trip. Of the remainder Better Moment is from a yard in form and has the ability to go close but does not always like to use it and for the winner we return to the progressive Gustavo.
Formwatch
Coppermalt (USA) 15-2 (10-1) Rest wide, held up last, headway to track leader after 4th, went 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Levitski (11-10) by 11l, 8 ran.
Gustavo 4-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, challenged between last 2, led approaching last, driven out, won at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan beating Moon Star (9-12) by 8l, 10 ran.
Better Moment (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, led 9th, ridden after 4 out, blundered last, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f cnd hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec beating Wild Power (11-0) by 7l, 14 ran.
Kenwyn 14-1 (10-7) Prominent, chased leader 4th, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, soon tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Brave Jo (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Compton Star 8-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, hit 2 out, led approaching last, ran on flat, headed post, 2nd of 16, shd behind Femme D'avril (9-13) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Xila Fontenailles (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leader to after 4th, ridden after 3 out, hung left approaching last, kept on flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Scarlet Mix (11-10) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) In touch until 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Celtic Major (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Marronnier (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division and hampered 1st, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 47l behind Sarin (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Tavalu (USA) 4-6fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden 3 out, gradually weakened, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Orion Express (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gs in Aug.
Fleetwood Forest 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on under pressure, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec beating Methodical (10-12) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Baie des Flamands (USA) 100-1 (10-6) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened, 9th of 13, 23l behind Kanad (11-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jan.
Shernatra (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Led 2nd, soon clear, mistake 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon headed and weakened, 5th of 9, 32l behind Helm (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Jabo (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place before 3 out, 8th of 18, 43l behind Malko De Beaumont (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Meadow Hawk (USA) 18-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Tora Petcha (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.