Racecards
15:25 Taunton
Xmas Fair 12th December Handicap Chase (5k Bonus Race) (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,422
- 2nd: £998
- 3rd: £499
- Form 4/0U257-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey Tom Cannon
held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, chased clear pair from 4 out until left 2nd 2 out, soon lost 2nd, one pace
- Form 3-47514
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey Ian Popham
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, upsides winner when fell 2 out
- Form P-08723
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mark Gillard
- Jockey T J Phelan
in touch in 4th, weakened before 5 out
- Form 2575/6F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Harry Challoner
held up in rear, pushed along 11th, blundered 6 out, never dangerouus
- Form 00/P2-15
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 92
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 11th, soon lost place, tailed off
Flugzeug
11- Form 85-P26F
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Kevin Jones
held up towards rear, went poor 4th before 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, soon went 2nd, no chance with winner
- Form 704-4P1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey James Best
led, jumped left 7th, ridden before 4 out, pressed when left clear 2 out, blundered last, kept on well
Verdict
Fontwell winner Midnight Lira failed to cope with a rise in the weights and step up in class last time. She's not easily dismissed back at this level and makes more appeal than Landenstown Star as the latter has to compete off a much higher mark back over fences. Rozolenn was still in contention when falling at Fontwell on his latest start and is preferred to Flugzeug, who also fell in the same race. MILOSAM will need to step up on his recent win over course and distance but there's every chance he will having only his third start over the larger obstacles - Philip Hobbs' charge gets the vote.
Formwatch
Brandon Thomas (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, ridden and lost place next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Bobby Dove (9-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Midnight Lira 15-2 (10-9) Prominent, jumped left 6th, every chance 4 out, 4th and beaten 2 out, 4th of 8, 9l behind Last Shot (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Landenstown Star (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd after 8th, not fluent 3 out, 10 lengths off leader before 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Proud Times (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Rozolenn (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 8th, led before 10th, fell 3 out, in a race won by Waltzing Tornado (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy, 6 ran.
Gingers Reflection 50-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 3rd, behind from 7th, blundered badly 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Valdez (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs.
Flugzeug 8-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, fell 7th, in a race won by Waltzing Tornado (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy, 6 ran.
Milosam (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led 6th, headed and pecked 8th, chased leaders, led again 11th, pushed along before 3 out, strongly pressed towards finish, held on gamely, all out, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd beating Pod (10-8) by shd, 8 ran.