Racecards
14:40 Taunton
Court Farm Butchers Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 104y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £8,400 added
- Winner: £5,458
- 2nd: £1,603
- 3rd: £801
- 4th: £401
- Form 603
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, headed flat, ran on
- Form 36PP-09
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
mid-division, struggling 3 out, soon well behind
- Form 32477
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Conor Ring
not always fluent, prominent, led after 3rd, headed before 5th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 3240-57
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, led flat, ran on
- Form /-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Alexandra Dunn
- Jockey R P McLernon
jumped right, in touch, lost place after 3 out
- Form 2494
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey Harry Bannister
led until after 3rd, led again 3 out, headed before next, 4th and no extra last, weakened flat
- Form 00-47
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
jumped right, towards rear, slow 5th, behind next
Tierra Verde
28- Form 42-753
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey S Bowen
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression on front pair last
- Form P32
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up and behind, went remote 5th when jumped left 2 out, no chance
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Alan Johns
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd or 5th, well beaten after 3 out
- Form /-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Patrick Cowley
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, headway after next, led before 5th, headed 3 out, weakened before next
Verdict
Ilewin Geez will be winning over hurdles soon judged on his debut effort at Doncaster when finding only First Drift too good. The Go Tou Man showed a big improvement when fourth at Huntingdon and much better is expected from Kings Inn having started favourite here in December on his hurdling debut but well beaten in third. Youngoconnor has placed in point-to-points and debuts under Rules but a chance is taken SANDRO BOTTICELLI takes to the obstacles given he’s a smart stayer on the Flat and can count the Listed Esher Stakes at Sandown among his successes.
Formwatch
Flight To Milan (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) In touch in mid-division, keen, headway 2 out, stayed on well, never able to challenge, 3rd of 13, 14 1/4l behind Storm Home (11-3) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Live For Today (IRE) 200-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Master Tommytucker (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Marble Moon (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and lost place before 3 out, 7th of 10, 35 1/2l behind Billingsley (11-3) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Nelson's Touch 16-1 (11-2) Keen, tracked leader after 1st, led 3rd, joined 3 out, headed approaching next, weakened between last 2, 7th of 10, 19 3/4l behind Whatswrongwithyou (11-8) at Newbury 2m (3) sft in Feb.
Sandro Botticelli (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Tracked winner, pushed along 6f out, lost 2nd over 4f out, soon behind and eased, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Watersmeet (9-7) at Kempton 2m stks (2) pol in Feb.
The Go Tou Man (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led, jumped left 1st, soon headed, led 2nd until 3rd, stayed handy, 4th and beaten when mistake last, stayed on same pace, 4th of 15, 5 3/4l behind Django Django (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m (4) sft in Jan.
The Imitation Game 25-1 (11-2) Raced wide in touch, weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Buildmeupbuttercup (10-11) at Ascot 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Tierra Verde 6-1 (10-12) Chased leading pair throughout, hit 6th, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, hit last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 14 3/4l behind Harmonise (10-2) at Plumpton 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Youngoconnor (IRE) 6-4 (11-11) Ww, 5th 1/2way, prog into 2nd 3out, ld app str, hdd last, ko sme pce cls home, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Lady Writer (11-6) at Nenagh 3m mdn hvy in Jan.
Akkapenko (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up in mid-division, pushed along and some headway on bend before 2 out, no impression, 10th of 14, 35 1/4l behind The Russian Doyen (11-8) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Blushing Red (FR) 8-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Villette (9-6) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Ilewin Geez 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd from last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 14, 3 1/4l behind First Drift (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb.
Luma's Gift 150-1 (10-11) Pushed along and struggling after 5th, always towards rear, tailed off, 15th of 16, dist behind Lord Napier (11-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Kings Inn (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, hit 3rd, outpaced in 3rd before 2 out, kept on, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Vaziani (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Dec.