Racecards
14:10 Taunton
William Hill Pick Your Places Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 104y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form FP-P0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Jack Barber
- Jockey David Noonan
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 5th, lost touch after 3 out, soon well beaten
- Form 44
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M Young
- Jockey James Best
prominent, settled in midfield 4th, ridden after 3 out, lost touch before 2 out, well beaten before last, plugged on
- Form 38
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Brendan Powell
midfield, steady headway 5th, chased leaders after 3 out, close up approaching two out, ridden before last, one pace
Iron Mike
29- Form 36F2P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Nick Mitchell
- Jockey Angus Cheleda
pressed leader, led narrowly 3rd, joined 5th, led narrowly 6th, ridden and joined 2 out, headed before last, no extra
- Form P8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss G Haywood
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
towards rear, not fluent 1st, slow 5th and ridden, lost touch before 6th, tailed off from 3 out
- Form 2-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T J O'Brien
keen in midfield, headway before 6th, ridden after 3 out and soon lost touch, well beaten 2 out, no extra
- Form 06-49
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Rex Dingle
held up towards rear, awkward 4th, well adrift 5th, tailed off before 2 out
- Form 8
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey C Gethings
prominent on outside, almost upsides 3rd, not fluent 5th and lost place, awkward 6th and driven, well beaten from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Alexandra Dunn
- Jockey Kielan Woods
keen in midfield, headway to chase leaders 6th, ridden and losing touch when fell 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
led narrowly, headed but close up 3rd, upsides 5th, pressed leader 6th, upsides travelling strongly 2 out, ridden to lead before last, drew readily clear flat
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
pulled hard behind leaders, close up 4th, still keen behind leaders 6th, weakened quickly approaching 2 out
Verdict
IRON MIKE struggled in Listed company last time but was beaten only a nose in a maiden hurdle at Wincanton before that despite a couple of mistakes. A more fluent display of jumping could see him off the mark in this. Vulcan has undergone wind surgery and is fitted with a tongue-tie having faded badly at Ascot on his hurdling bow while Rectory Oak has run well in a couple of bumpers so far and is preferred to stablemate Earth Business. Bright Eyed Eagle won a handicap on the Flat at Goodwood last year and debuts for new connections along with Tulin, who joins Paul Nicholls having won on the level in France.
Formwatch
Balinesker Beach (IRE) 250-1 (11-5) In touch in mid-division, hit 6th, ridden and lost place before 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Champagne Rhythm (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Doyens De Ante (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, lost touch final 6f, tailed off, 4th of 8, dist behind Thunder Rock (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) hvy in Feb.
Earth Business (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Raced keenly, mid-division, jumped right 1st, closed 2nd, ridden and edged left before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 24l behind Longshanks (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) hvy in Feb.
Iron Mike 28-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden, weakened and pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 1f lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Pol Ma Cree 150-1 (11-4) In rear, some headway on inside over 6f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Mot A Mot (11-4) at Chepstow 2m mdn (5) sft in Feb.
Rectory Oak (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, led over 4f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 4th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Lady Jane P (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) gd in Sep.
That Ole Chestnut (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Always behind, 9th of 15, dist behind Balko Saint (10-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Mar.
Trwyn Du (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Walked to post, walked into the start, led, joined 1st turn, swerved slightly end of back straight and weakened, ridden turning for home, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Le Bateau (11-0) at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) sft in Dec.
Rock Of Star (FR) Nom De D'la gelding out of Rolie De Vindecy.
Tulin (9-4) won at Lignieres 1m 4f stks fm in Jun beating Champy Charm (9-1) by hd, 9 ran.
Vulcan (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, went 2nd after 3 out until 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Tritonic (10-12) at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Bruelay 5-1 (12-0) Prom; led 15 til hdd & wknd qckly 2 out, 5th of 14, 34l behind Kyntara (11-7) at Bishops Court 3m mdn sft in Oct.
Gaelic Thunder 66-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden end of back straight, weakened quickly home turn, virtually pulled up, 12th of 13, dist behind Del La Mar Rocket (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) hvy in Jan.
Bright Eyed Eagle (IRE) 11-5fav (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden along over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Singing The Blues (9-10) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep.