Racecards
13:05 Taunton
EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £6,500 added
- Winner: £4,224
- 2nd: £1,240
- 3rd: £620
- 4th: £310
- Form 210-331
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 122
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders before 2 out, one pace between last 2, no impression
- Form 26-821
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Banks
held up in rear, headway to track leaders 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed narrowly last, kept on and every chance flat, just held
- Form 4P24-30
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Rachael Green
held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 2-1424
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey C O'Farrell
raced keenly, tracked leading pair, challenged after 3 out, led briefly before next, one pace before last, ridden and no impression with front pair flat
- Form 1/3-23
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up in 4th on outside, joined leaders after 3 out, led narrowly when edged right last, soon ridden, wandered and jinked left final 50 yards, held on
- Form 5650
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Mrs A Batchelor
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 8508
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Mark Gillard
- Jockey T J Phelan
tracked leader, lost place and ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
Verdict
Assam Black and Quinlandio are both penalised for their respective wins at Exeter and Towcester. The former makes most appeal of that pair having won in this grade. But the weight advantage favours PADGE in this given Evan Williams' charge went close at Ffos Las before finding life tough in better company at Cheltenham last time. Mount Haven is not out of this either on his earlier second at Stratford though he may prefer faster ground.
Formwatch
Assam Black (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led after 6th, clear before 3 out until went left 2 out, went left again last, edged left flat, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Thundering Home (11-6) by nk, 18 ran.
Quinlandio (IRE) 5-2 (10-11) Mid-division, took keen hold and in touch after 3rd, went left 3 out, led approaching next, headed briefly last, ridden and edged left flat, held on, won at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Dusky Legend (10-7) by nk, 11 ran.
Fountains Cider 20-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Vago Collonges (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft.
Mount Haven (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 8, 25l behind Dibdabs (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Padge (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway and 9 lengths 5th 2 out, soon no impression, went 3rd after last, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 7, 25l behind Seedling (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs in Dec.
Ambre Des Marais (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, took keen hold, well beaten 3 out, last of 11, 41l behind Tea For Two (10-11) at Towcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec.
Petite Fantasie 200-1 (10-12) Took keen hold early, held up towards rear, never on terms, tailed off, 8th of 14, 50l behind Vago Collonges (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft.
Wistari Rocks (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 6f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 5th of 14, 20l behind Indian Stream (10-4) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Sep '13.