Racecards
13:35 Taunton
Dave Criddle Travel & Wendy Wu Tours Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 104y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Winner: £5,198
- 2nd: £1,526
- 3rd: £763
- 4th: £382
- Form 364-933
- Age 4
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led until after 4th, remained prominent, effort 3 out, stayed on same pace after next
- Form 212-90U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Miss Jodie Hughes
tracked leaders, hard driven to challenge before 2 out, soon outpaced by easy winner
- Form 83/146-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Ian Popham
pulled hard in mid-division, effort 3 out, soon no impression
- Form 7/F66-95
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
behind, mistake 1st, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 32U47-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, headway on inside to lead after 4th, headed just after 3 out, weakened next
- Form 1359P7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer S D Dixon
- Jockey Mr G Treacy
mid-division, headway when hampered 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 3555
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
mid-division, never on terms
- Form P463-05
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey Kieron Edgar
held up in rear, headway when fell 4 out
- Form 12P1-PP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey N de Boinville
in touch, weakened after 4th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 89P-65U
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey J J Burke
held up in rear, headway 3 out, weakened next
- Form 00-6F11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 86
mid-division, headway 4th, chased leaders next, led on bit after 3 out, drew clear next, very easily
- Form 328F26
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
behind, mistake 4th, headway when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
- Form 0595/0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
always behind
- Form 3344-50
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J Farrelly
- Jockey Mr Garry Lavery
tracked leaders, hard driven after 3 out, kept on well under pressure, no chance with easy winner
- Form 8-U63P3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey N D Fehily
NonRunner
- Form 5729
- Age 3
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer W G M Turner
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
NonRunner
Verdict
Our Merlin looked ahead of the handicapper when bolting up at Fontwell on Monday, though his winning distance was exaggerated by conditions. This is a lot more competitive and he now has a double penalty to shoulder. TOBACCO ROAD wasn’t quite as impressive here four weeks ago but that was his first run of the season and he can confirm that form with New Millennium, Status Quo and Oscar's Song and defy an 8lb higher mark. Master Vintage is lightly raced for his age and his comeback fourth at Warwick was a decent effort. Primo Blue should find a small handicap this winter but this looks too short. Maid Of Tuscany was third at Southwell last month but she’s only a plater.
Formwatch
New Millennium (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Led set strong pace and soon clear until approaching 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, chased winner, well held last, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 15, 3 3/4l behind Tobacco Road (11-1) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Lord Fendale (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Master Vintage 40-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged approaching 3 out, led soon after, hard pressed when hit next, headed between last 2, no impression in 4th flat, 4th of 11, 5 3/4l behind One For Billy (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Whin Park 7-1 (11-12) Always behind, 10th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Hoke Colburn (11-10) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Primo Blue 28-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders approaching next, no impression when mistake last, weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 15, 12 1/2l behind Knocknamona (10-0) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Tobacco Road (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, driven clear from last, won at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Serveontime (10-11) by 3 3/4l, 15 ran.
I'll Be Your Clown (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Cabernet D'alene (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Hidden Oasis (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 6, 26 1/4l behind Generous Day (10-9) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Status Quo (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on run-in, never going pace to threaten, 5th of 15, 6 1/4l behind Tobacco Road (11-1) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Jaunty Inflight 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Franz Klammer 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Our Merlin Evensfav (10-9) Raced wide, made most, drew clear on bit from 2 out, unchallenged after, very easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Jebs Gamble (11-2) by 11l, 6 ran.
Oscar's Song (IRE) 9-2fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway and plugged on from 2 out, never going pace to get involved, 6th of 15, 10l behind Tobacco Road (11-1) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Empty Marmalades (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, 10th of 12, dist behind Mister Malarky (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Mr Lando 10-1 (11-9) Led to after 3rd, tracked leader, led again briefly before 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 17, 35l behind Norse Light (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Maid Of Tuscany (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, rallied after next, hampered 2 out, kept on well closing stages, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Hey Bob (10-0) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Il Sicario (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, under pressure after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, dist behind Thounder (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Oct.