Racecards
13:40 Taunton
Taunton Racecourse Owners Club Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 541183
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P W Middleton
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
in rear, blundered 4 out, soon went remote 4th, never dangerous
- Form 3-34411
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
tracked leaders, soon chased winner, kept on and no impression from 3 out
- Form 907/2-33
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 4th
- Form 1322-64
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in touch in 4th, jumped left 3 out, ridden next, kept on and no impression
- Form 4233-41
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked winner early, ridden and weakened from 3 out
- Form 78/5280-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 113
made all, clear from before 2 out, easily
- Form 413463
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up towards rear, badly hampered 4th, soon struggling well behind
Verdict
Alwaystheoptimist has struggled off higher marks since landing a double last month and it remains to be seen how Be All Man copes with a further 5lb rise as he bids for a hat-trick. Gandalfe finally opened his account over fences with a victory at Huntingdon but an 11lb rise looks likely to anchor him. Elsafeer wasn't disgraced in soft ground at Sandown on his chasing bow but BULLET STREET fared even better on his first start over fences at Ludlow. Beaten seven lengths on his first outing since May, Evan Williams' charge should be sharper for this and gets the nod.
Formwatch
Alwaystheoptimist 9-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace, headway to chase clear leader after 3 out, ridden and keeping on one pace when blundered last and buckled on landing, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Tempest River (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m (3) sft.
Be All Man (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 7th, mistake and led 3 out, driven flat, stayed on, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy beating Takeroc (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Elsafeer (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Led until 3 out, soon last and beaten, left 3rd last, 3rd of 4, 18l behind Hinterland (11-1) at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) sft.
Bullet Street (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, not fluent 3rd, it 9th, soon ridden in 6th, stayed on same pace from 4 out, unable to challenge, 4th of 11, 7l behind Oyster Shell (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Gandalfe (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, drew clear after next, ran on well (the last fence was omitted), won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs beating Un Anjou (11-12) by 10l, 10 ran.
Workbench (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly, tailed off, 11th of 13, 47l behind Della Sun (10-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Violets Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In rear, jumped left 11th, soon outpaced, went remote 3rd after last, 3rd of 7, 37l behind Foundation Man (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.