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Racecards

14:10 Taunton

Staple Fitzpaine Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)

  • 14 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 110y
  • Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £6,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 1.50s
  • Off Time: 14:10:32
  • 14 Ran
1
Silk - Pink, Purple epaulets, striped sleeves, Purple and pinkhooped cap
28/1
  • Form 3-71103
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 111

led until 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next

2
Silk - Light Blue, White stripe and armlets
  • Form 10-2213
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 123

in touch, narrow advantage 2 out, soon ridden, headed run in, no extra

3
Silk - Light Green, White Cross of Lorraine, White sleeves, Light Green armlets, White cap
  • Form 95
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

took keen hold in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened

4
Silk - White, Royal Blue cross belts, Red sleeves, Royal Blue armlets and star on Red cap
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

always behind, lost touch after 7th, pulled up before 9th

5
Silk - Apple Green, Black sleeves
150/1
  • Form 787-9
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

chased leaders until weakened after 3 out

6
Silk - Red and Dark Green diabolo, Dark Green sleeves, White stars, Dark Green cap, White star
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-12

held up towards rear, headway 5th, driven along from next, weakened before 7th, pulled up before 8th

7
Silk - Dark Blue, Beige seams, hooped sleeves and cap
7/1
  • Form 128/F4
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-12

mid-division, hit 7th, headway next, ridden to challenge 2 out, led flat, ridden out

8
Silk - Emerald Green, White epaulets, diabolo on sleeves, White cap
200/1
  • Form PP-PP
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-12

mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened 9th

9
Silk - Black, White hoops, Red sleeves and cap
  • Form U5F/4-45
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-12

held up towards rear, steady headway from 8th, ridden and effort after 2 out, kept on same pace

10
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, YELLOW epaulets and sleeves, RED cap
  • Form 2-4
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12

pecked 1st, held up towards rear, headway 7th, joined leaders 9th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out

11
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
14/1
  • Form 52
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

took keen hold towards rear, steady progress from 9th, effort 3 out, kept on same pace

12
Silk - Yellow, Red hoops, spots on sleeves, hooped cap
150/1
  • Form 7
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-12

mid-division, headway after 3 out, weakened 8th

13
Silk - Red, Grey diamond, Grey cap
12/1
  • Form 48-0931
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-11
  • Official Rating 100

chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed before next, weakened

14
Silk - Red, Yellow sash, Brown sleeves, Yellow cap, Red star
  • Form 6
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-5

mid-division until weakened 8th

In depth

Verdict

Leading Contender looks the one to be on, with Mole's Chamber, Noble Ben and Itsa Legend taken to give him most to do. Leading Contender was marked down as one to follow after landing his first two bumpers, and indeed was deemed good enough to run in the big one in that sphere at the Cheltenham Festival. However, it has to said that he was something of a disappointment on each of his first two outings over timber, finding one too good each time when sent off odds-on. He was subsequently sent for some intensive schooling that paid off as he looked much more the part when scoring at Chepstow, and looked to be crying out for today's trip of three miles when third at Wincanton last time. He is destined to go chasing, but now that the penny has dropped and we know that he stays, the Hobbs inmate should take the beating today. Mole's Chamber was well supported to land a Towcester bumper in November, but found the heavy going up the hill too much and faded. He is an interesting contender along with Noble Ben, who although brushed aside by Ship's Hill at Fakenham, is another that will relish the trip. Itsa legend is a slow, maturing chaser in the making, and in company with Just Poppytee, is one for the future, with preference much today for Leading Contender.

Formwatch

Warpath (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led, ridden 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Armariver (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Leading Contender (IRE) 5-2 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Lord Sam (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.

Arpeggio Major (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Held up, weakened from 8th, 5th of 12, 35l behind Shrewd Investor (10-12) at Bangor 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Brave Paddy (IRE) Brave Act gelding, half-brother to Group 2 winning sprinter Princely Hush & winning jumper Knight's Emperor.

Dr Flight 100-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 9th of 17, 44l behind Portland Bill (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft.

Goldenhay Imposter Man Among Men gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.

Itsa Legend 3-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden after 8, no impression from next, left 4th at the last, 4th of 12, 19l behind Special Envoy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft.

Macstheman (IRE) 125-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Flight Leader (10-13) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct, 13 ran.

Mister Knight (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace after, 5th of 17, 27l behind Portland Bill (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft.

Mole's Chamber (IRE) 9-4fav (10-7) Keen, chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 4th of 9, 20l behind Bally Conn (11-0) at Towcester 2m nhf (6) hvy in Nov.

Noble Ben (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Led 2nd, headed after 2 out, soon weakened, 2nd of 10, 21l behind Ship's Hill (11-5) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.

Romers Common 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 45l behind Mount Sandel (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.

Just Poppytee 15-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, driven along 3 out, led 2 out, driven clear, won at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft beating Ring Back (11-4) by 8l, 6 ran.

Clover Green (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 6th, weakened approaching next, 6th of 16, well behind La Dame Brune (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.