Racecards
15:20 Taunton
Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £16,000 added
- Winner: £10,128
- 2nd: £2,992
- 3rd: £1,496
- 4th: £749
- Form 2271-67
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
held up towards rear, pushed along 6th, headway on outside 3 out, challenged next, every chance last, ridden and no extra flat
- Form 1/1124P-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
took keen hold, held up towards rear, outpaced 6th, kept on from 2 out, never able to challenge
- Form 195-311
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey T J O'Brien
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace, no impression approaching last
- Form 61-1300
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 136
held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 32-2614
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey James Best
chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, lost place 6th, kept on from 2 out, never on terms
- Form 432/11-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression with front pair
- Form 3/P-6221
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division in touch on inside, outpaced 6th, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
- Form 17-00F6
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey J W Farrelly
held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
Ranjaan (FR)
23- Form 2F1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
raced keenly, held up mid-division, switched outside approaching 3rd, headway 5th, led when not fluent 2 out, hard pressed when not fluent again last, ridden out flat
- Form 415P-P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey C O'Farrell
led narrowly, headed 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 663-62
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Ed De Giles
- Jockey Felix de Giles
tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 331R37/
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer M J Coombe
- Jockey R Mahon
with leader, driven and lost place approaching 2 out, weakened last
Verdict
This looks a cracking contest with the four-year-old Ranjaan sure to be popular after getting off the mark at Kempton, though the second has let the form down since. Bally Legend improved to land a competitive handicap at Cheltenham last month but Third Intention has find life tough this season, though has been taking on decent opposition. David Pipe's pair Street Entertainer and Moose Moran both have the past form to figure, while Salontyre goes well here and Dunraven Storm and Devil To Pay could be interesting returning from a lay-off. DRUMSHAMBO was all out to beat Prince Of Dreams over C&D last month and the latter is a couple of pounds better off today. But Venetia Williams' six-year-old has been on an upward curve all winter and could be a bit of value to follow up in this better grade.
Formwatch
Third Intention (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Disputed lead, driven and every chance when hit last, soon ridden, stayed on same pace flat, 7th of 23, 8l behind Brampour (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Joined leader after 1st, led narrowly 3rd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Al Ferof (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Bally Legend 8-1 (11-9) Always prominent, challenged on inside before last, ridden to lead narrowly when hung left flat, stayed on under pressure, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec beating First In The Queue (11-3) by hd, 13 ran.
Street Entertainer (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up behind, ridden 7th, lost touch 3 out, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Arab League (10-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Salontyre (GER) 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division on inside, pushed along from 6th, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, no impression, 4th of 10, 25l behind Arab League (10-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Devil To Pay 5-2fav (11-12) Close up, 3rd travelling well after 3 out, went 2nd approaching and hit last, led flat, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Minneapolis (10-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Drumshambo (USA) 9-1 (11-11) In touch on inside, led narrowly before 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, held on near finish, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec beating Prince Of Dreams (11-9) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Numide (FR) 40-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 6th of 12, 24l behind Star Of Angels (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Ranjaan (FR) Evensfav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led narrowly and hit 2 out, strongly pressed when ridden and edged right before last, stayed on well and in command flat, won at Kempton 2m 3yo hdl (3) gs in Dec beating Lemon Drop Red (10-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Moose Moran (USA) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, not always fluent, tracked winner 3rd until ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Laterly (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May, 10 ran.
Prince Of Dreams 14-1 (11-9) Held up behind, headway 6th, effort 2 out, every chance last, ridden and stayed on to press winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Drumshambo (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
San Marino (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Prominent, pushed along and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 10, 35l behind Cabinet Minister (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb '10.