Racecards
14:10 Taunton
C&S Electrical Wholesale Termination Technology Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 104y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,400 added
- Winner: £5,458
- 2nd: £1,603
- 3rd: £801
- 4th: £401
- Form 2315
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
always prominent, led 4th, clear 2 out, ran on well, comfortably
- Form 7-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in mid-division, some headway after 3 out, never involved
- Form 884-F35
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs R Ford
- Jockey R P McLernon
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression on front pair
- Form /-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A G Newcombe
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
jumped right and not that fluent, towards rear, struggling 5th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 8555
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders on outside, lost place 6th, well beaten after 3 out
- Form 0P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Alain Cawley
slowly away, always in rear
- Form 00P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Nick Mitchell
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
slowly away, always in rear, well tailed off when took wayward path to 2 out
- Form 97-706
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Conor Ring
led, jumped slowly 1st, headed after 2nd, not fluent 3rd, lost place before 2 out
- Form 27655
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up towards rear, headway on outside after 3 out, shaken up and stayed on same pace from 2 out
- Form -
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
mid-division, not fluent 3 out, no impression, well held from 2 out
- Form 295
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
prominent, led after 2nd, headed 4th, stayed on same pace approaching 2 out
The Major
50- Form R05
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer K Woollacott
- Jockey James Best
held up towards rear, took keen hold, modest headway before 2 out, soon no further progress
- Form 51
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey Lizzie Kelly
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on and well clear of rest
Akkapenko (FR)
128- Form /-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Alan Johns
took keen hold, held up in mid-division, pushed along and some headway on bend before 2 out, no impression
Verdict
Sea Of Mystery was placed three times on the Flat in Ireland. He has a lengthy absence to overcome but his yard can get one ready at home and his stamina is assured. Akkapenko won three times on the level in the French Provinces and has joined the Tim Vaughan yard. He should find a race or two over hurdles but may struggle against fellow four-year-old ESPRIT DE SOMOZA (NAP). The latter may have benefited from others going off too quickly last time at Huntingdon but beat three previous winners and the well-beaten fifth won easily at Wincanton on Saturday. The Russian Doyen was outclassed in the Tolworth at Sandown last month but had won at Exeter the time before and that form is also working out.
Formwatch
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leader who went clear after 2nd, lost 2nd briefly closed 4th, jumped slowly and lost 2nd 3rd, weakened before 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Choix Des Armes (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Hampered 1st, steadied well in rear, never in contention, tailed off, last of 15, dist behind Kildisart (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) gs in Nov.
Dont Be Robin (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Towards rear, outpaced over 5f out, weakened 3f out, pressed for remote 4th from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 26 1/2l behind Dashel Drasher (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) hvy in Feb.
House Of Frauds (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Dwelt in rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 7th of 12, 23 1/4l behind Esspeegee (9-1) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Sep.
Irish Prince (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and well beaten 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, 5th of 10, dist behind Brianstorm (11-2) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Lake Washington (FR) 66-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led after 1st, clear next until jumped left 4th, went left 5th, soon headed and weakened, tailed off 11th 3 out, pulled up after, at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Mr Magill (FR) 150-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, led and clear, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, headed before 4th, soon weakened, mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) hvy in Feb.
Newquay Cards (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Not always fluent, chased clear leader until 2nd, 6th after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 12, dist behind Molineaux (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) hvy in Feb.
Samson The Man 9-1 (11-2) In rear, not fluent 2nd, remote 8th after 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 12, dist behind Molineaux (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) hvy in Feb.
Sea Of Mystery (IRE) 3-1jfav (8-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, driven 2 1/2f out, ridden under 2f out, dropped to 3rd over 1f out, 4th final 150 yards, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Laws Of Spin (8-10) at Leopardstown 1m 7f hcp gd in Aug.
The Groovy Hoovy 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, under pressure after 3 out, weakened before omitted last, 5th of 13, 18l behind Storm Home (11-3) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
The Major 33-1 (11-3) Keen towards rear, behind and struggling after 3rd, tailed off, 5th of 9, dist behind Show On The Road (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) hvy in Jan.
Esprit De Somoza (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Raced in 3rd or 4th, slow 4th and when outpaced 3 out, closed 2 out, led last, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Huntingdon 2m (2) sft in Jan beating Gumball (11-6) by 5l, 5 ran.
Akkapenko (FR) (9-1) won at Hyeres 1m 4f hcp gs in Oct beating L'arlesienne (9-6) by 1l, 10 ran.