Racecards
14:50 Taunton
Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Winner: £5,848
- 2nd: £1,717
- 3rd: £859
- 4th: £429
- Form 50-131
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Stephen O'donovan
raced keenly, held up in last pair in touch, mistake 3rd, headway 9th, joined leaders when blundered 3 out, led when mistake next, hung right between last 2, went right last, ridden and kept on flat, just held on
- Form 121P3-2
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
keen early, held up in last pair in touch, jumped left and mistake 3 out, not recover, pulled up before next
- Form 9/5-1216
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Michael Byrne
in touch, joined leaders 3rd, led 8th, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace last, no extra and lost place flat
- Form 2224-F0
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, ridden after next, 4th when not fluent last, rallied flat, not reached leaders
- Form 3-5PP82
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
made most to 8th, outpaced when hit next, ridden 2 out, 6th and hit last, rallied flat, went 3rd towards finish, not reached leading pair
- Form 342/1-25
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
raced keenly, raced wide straights, tracked leaders, mistake 8th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance between last 2, kept on same pace, lost place flat
- Form 2121P3/
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 113
raced wide straights, with leader, lost place 9th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 13212/1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, 5th last, rallied to chase winner flat, just failed
- Form 2-43175
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Mrs A L M King
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
Nonrunner
Verdict
Express Leader looks the pick of Paul Nicholls' pair today, despite failing to justify favouritism at Exeter last month, as Tigre D'Aron was behind when Pavillon Bleu was just touched off by Carrickmines over C&D 10 days ago. Philip Hobbs also runs Lord Crewe, who won on his reappearance at Exeter in November, while Chain Of Command should improve for his second at Stratford in October. FOX APPEAL was put up 8lb after just scraping home over C&D last month but Emma Lavelle's charge is still heading in the right direction and useful claimer Stephen O'Donovan again takes off 7lb. The top weight can score again with Makhzoon now visored after disappointing at Chepstow.
Formwatch
Fox Appeal (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 7th, challenged last, ran on to lead post, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Benbens (10-8) by shd, 11 ran.
Chain Of Command (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th and next, headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Grandads Horse (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Makhzoon (USA) 16-1 (10-8) Held up, jumped right and bumped 4th, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 8, 22l behind Palace Jester (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Patsy Finnegan 33-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, never on terms, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Our Father (11-11) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Pressed leader, not fluent 1st or 2nd, led 4th, headed after next, ridden 3 out, switched right and challenged last, led flat, headed post, 2nd of 10, ns behind Carrickmines (11-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Express Leader 9-4fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, chased leaders and blundered 3 out, in 3rd and held when mistake last, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 17l behind Highway Code (11-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Right Option (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Chased leader who went clear 2nd until 6th, led 7th until 3 out, beaten last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Estates Recovery (10-0) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr '10.
Lord Crewe (IRE) 11-2fav (11-1) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Sapphire Rouge (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Tigre D'aron (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 4th, effort after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression, no extra last, 5th of 10, 12l behind Carrickmines (11-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Prince Of Denial (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 9, 11l behind River Dragon (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.