Racecards
15:45 Taunton
Bathwick Tyres Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £18,500 added
- Winner: £11,710
- 2nd: £3,460
- 3rd: £1,730
- 4th: £866
- Form 211-031
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Jack Sherwood
tracked leaders, challenged 4th, led before 3 out, clear before 2 out, ridden out, very easily
- Form 233-742
- Age 11
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer M J Coombe
- Jockey Mrs M Roberts
took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, headway to chase leaders 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, no chance with easy winner when lost 2nd before 2 out, left poor 3rd and hampered 2 out, soon driven, lost 3rd last
Leviathan
59- Form 217-P41
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leader, led after 3rd until before 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, rallied into poor 2nd under pressure when fell 2 out
- Form 18-4F51
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
led, headed after 3rd, prominent until veered left on stable bend and lost place after 4th, rallying when left in modest 2nd 2 out, hung right between last 2, never any chance with easy winner
- Form F213-41
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Alexandra Dunn
- Jockey Mrs Alex Dunn
took keen hold tracking leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until after next, chased leaders, badly outpaced before 3 out, rallied to poor 3rd and hit last
- Form 132-980
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in rear, pushed along and outpaced before 4th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Verdict
This looks a tight little handicap, though it's hard to recommend Look For Love on this season's form as he carries more than his allotted weight. Leviathan ground out a victory on soft ground at Haydock in December while Helium beat Chesil Beach Boy over this track and trip three weeks ago. There should be little between the pair again on today's terms. VIRAK loves the mud and bolted up over a longer trip here last month when carrying a similar weight. He's gone up 10lb in the handicap since but Jack Sherwood takes off 7lb and he could be yet another for the Nicholls team as Tornado In Milan's only victory so far this season came over fences and he has 5lb more to carry back over hurdles.
Formwatch
Virak (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Led until 1st, with leader, not fluent 3rd, mistake 3 out, drew well clear approaching 2 out, kept up to work, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Sustainability (10-11) by 42l, 5 ran.
Chesil Beach Boy 5-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, started racing keenly and closed 4th, challenged 6th, led and edged right before 2 out, soon headed, stayed with every chance, carried slightly left flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Helium (10-1) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Leviathan 3-1fav (11-6) Pulled hard tracking leaders, mistakes 2nd and 5th, every chance from 2 out, led after last, stayed on strongly, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Hartside (10-10) by 1l, 7 ran.
Tornado In Milan (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Took keen hold early, prominent, led 3rd, not fluent next, joined 4 out until 3 out, 4 lengths clear when hit last, all out, won at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Jan beating Sound Investment (11-7) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Helium (FR) 17-2 (10-1) Pulled hard, prominent, led 3rd, headed before 2 out, soon led again, ridden and edged left flat, held on, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Chesil Beach Boy (11-4) by hd, 6 ran.
Look For Love 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, 11th of 15, well behind Quick Decisson (10-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.