Racecards
14:25 Taunton
Toteswinger Novices' Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Form 1F2331
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ian Popham
tracked leading trio, left 3rd at 10th, chased winner after 4 out, challenged and every chance when hit 3 out, soon ridden, no extra before last
- Form 122519
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey D C Costello
led and disputed, led after 3rd until next, led 6th until 11th, chase winner until after 4 out, well held 3rd and driven when hit 3 out
- Form 20-4313
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
led and disputed, led until after 3rd, led 4th until 6th, led 11th, made rest, over 2 lengths clear last, kept on well
- Form 0P7-PF3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Jimmy Derham
chased leading quartett, left 4th at 10th, outpaced 13th, no chance after, tailed off
Owlsley
50- Form 06P-90P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey Charlie Huxley
in rear, mistake 8th, left 5th at 10th, under pressure before 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 67U4-41
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
tracked leading pair, hit 9th, fell next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
EMPEROR CONCERTO likes a good test of stamina and is fancied to take the beating in the company; Junior also stays well and has to be a threat, while Recif De Thaix is respected in a small field like this. The last named races from the same mark as when he won a two-horse race at Fontwell last month, so has obvious claims again today; especially with a 5lb conditional helping to negate the penalty. Junior has held his form well this year and, although this former Grade 2 winner over hurdles is unlikely to be a superstar over fences; he has taken well to the new challenge and merits a second look in the betting. However, Emperor Concerto always looked a chaser in the making and, as he proved at Doncaster in February, the Lucy Wadham-trained gelding can be a real force to be reckoned with at this level.
Formwatch
Recif De Thaix (FR) Evens (11-4) Tracked leader, led as leader slithered on landing 3 out, soon clear, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) hvy in Mar beating Superior Wisdom (11-4) by 15l, 2 ran.
Emperor Concerto 25-1 (11-0) With leader, lost place 6th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 21l behind Red Harbour (10-11) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Junior 14-1 (11-12) Mostly chased leader until 12th, ridden before 14th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 11, 29l behind Carrickmines (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Mar.
Beware Chalk Pit (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up 3rd and last, headway and effort on outside approaching 2 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, last of 3, 6l behind I Have Dreamed (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (4) sft.
Owlsley 22-1 (11-3) In rear, blundered 2nd, well behind 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Wherrimon (11-7) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Feb, 14 ran.
Willowpattern 2-1 (11-7) Made all; v easy, won at Larkhill 3m ptp fm in May beating Namur (12-0) by 15l, 6 ran.