Racecards
12:30 Taunton
British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 1y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form 4P1-111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in mid-division, closer tracking leaders before 3 out, went 2nd before last, every chance run-in, pressed winner and every chance run-in, found no extra towards finish
- Form 11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Bryony Frost
chased leaders out wide, challenged and hit 4 out, led next, soon pushed along, headed and weakened before 2 out
- Form 1-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leaders on inside, going well 3 out, led 2 out, joined last, ridden and strongly pressed when edged left briefly run-in, found extra towards finish
- Form P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
well in rear, pushed along and struggling after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 315/P5-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey Lorcan Murtagh
raced wide in mid-division, weakened and behind after 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off
- Form 5F/P11-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss J Du Plessis
- Jockey James Best
raced on inside, led, jumped slowly 6th, pushed along after 4 out, headed next, weakened quickly, tailed off
- Form U1-60
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
soon held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, pushed along out wide after 3 out, weakened between last 2
- Form 79
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Conor Ring
mid-division, pushed along and outpaced in last pair after 5th, tailed off
Tile Tapper
21- Form 3/41-323
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C Honour
- Jockey Bryan Carver
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, challenged and hit 3 out, chased new leader after, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed 2 out, no extra in 3rd when switched right before the last
- Form 0P9
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Alexandra Dunn
- Jockey Cillin Leonard
chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, weakened rapidly after 6th, tailed off
Verdict
Tile Tapper struggled in Grade 1 company last time but had placed at Ascot earlier and has an advantage at the weights with the penalised winners including Alaphilippe. The latter has won both starts over timber in good style while Seelotmorebusiness made a winning debut over hurdles at Chepstow and steps up in distance. But point-to-point winner STELLAR MAGIC scored in testing ground over track and trip on his first outing for Philip Hobbs’ yard and there looks much more to come from him with conditions to suit. Sam Barton showed improvement at Hereford last time and is another to consider in an open contest.
Formwatch
Alaphilippe (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Raced on inside, tracked leader, led 6th, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Won't Talk (10-12) by 7 1/2l, 5 ran.
Seelotmorebusiness (IRE) 5-4 (11-9) Chased leaders, reminder home bend, went 2nd 3 out until green and edged right before last, edged right and stayed on flat, led final 75 yards, held on, won at Chepstow 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov beating Smurphy Enki (11-9) by nk, 11 ran.
Stellar Magic (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Mid-division, closer after the 5th, travelling easy and tracked leader turning for home, every chance 2 out, led last, kept on well run-in, won at Taunton 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec beating Time To Tinker (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Get On Jeremy (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Held up, slow 4th, pushed along 6th, tailed off approaching 7th, pulled up soon after, at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Green Dolphin (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) With winner early, mistake 5 out and lost 2nd place, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 12, 32 1/4l behind Masters Legacy (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Port O'clock (IRE) 5-4 (11-7) (h) made all; lft solo bypassing 3 out, won at Great Trethew 3m hvy in Mar.
Revels Hill (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place on inside after 5th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Witness Protection (11-5) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
The Boat (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never involved, 9th of 11, 31 3/4l behind Bear Ghylls (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Tile Tapper 22-1 (11-7) Held up last, awkward 2nd, outpaced 4 out, kept on into modest 4th between last 2, hung left before the last, took 3rd run-in, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 20 1/2l behind Metier (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Myfanwy's Jewel 200-1 (10-9) Held up, outpaced and ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, dist behind Flash Collonges (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
Aeronisi (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until 1st, mid-division, closed 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 30 3/4l behind When You're Ready (10-12) at Stratford 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Mechelen Star 33-1 (10-11) Detached throughout, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Stratford 2m (4) sft in Aug.
Sam Barton 5-2fav (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, went 2nd before the last, stayed on same pace run in, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Optimise Prime (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.