Bathwick Tyres Taunton Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 55.8s

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Selected odds by:

Top Wood^b,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

11/2

Too many poor efforts this season to be confident about his chance, but is capable in this grade and is on a winning mark if he can turn things around. Trip and expected ground both fine. Market may guide as to his chance.

Form: 7F-05U7

Dawson City³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: P Gundry| OR: 126

3/1

Stays all day, as demonstrated by his second to Morney Wing in the Sussex National at Plumpton in January but disappointing in the mud at Hereford next time. Possible the addition of cheekpieces there didn't help, removed today, and no surprise if he bounced back.

Form: U2222-5

Sartorial Elegance^b⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125

6/1

Good winner (on good to soft) at Plumpton in December but not so good since, turning in a rather laboured effort at Wincanton last time out, never really travelling. Hard to know what to expect after that, and heavy ground another possible issue.

Form: F13-431

St Dominick⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 123

20/1

Won a staying handicap chase back in 2015 and fairly lightly raced since. Caught the eye when never really put in the race at Exeter last time out, suggesting he's about to refind some form. One of the more interesting ones.

Form: 15P6-F4

Themanfrom Minella^p,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 121

9/1

Good effort after nine months away from the track when second to the fast-improving Coolking at Lingfield, but never in the race at Bangor on latest start and pulled up. Handles heavy and not discounted, but needs to bounce back from that poor run.

Form: 7/2PU2-P

Bears Rails^b²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120

15/2

Inconsistent, but did win a small event at Fontwell in January (second well beaten since) before another moderate effort at Bangor latest, although possible he didn't stay the trip. Drop back here may prove beneficial, but needs to prove himself on very deep ground.

Form: 3214-44

Flaming Charmer³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

7/2

Best form has come at shorter so needs to prove himself at the trip, indeed his efforts at further than 2m4f leave plenty to be desired. Looks an unlikely winner based on that, with stouter stayers in the field.

Form: 7P14/P1

Regal Flow²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 115

8/1

Handles soft/heavy ground and gets this trip, but seemingly only on good ground, so still questions to answer on that score. Not a bad effort in cheekpieces (missing here) at Sandown last time but overall record (3-26) a bit offputting, and more likelier winners.

Form: 1552-79

Forecasts

Dawson City (3/1), Flaming Charmer (7/2), Top Wood (11/2), Sartorial Elegance (6/1), Bears Rails (15/2), Regal Flow (8/1), Themanfrom Minella (9/1), St Dominick (20/1)

A chance is taken on ST DOMINICK, who looked to be about to come back to some form at Exeter, travelling nicely off the pace and wasn't knocked about. Conditions here look ideal and he can score at the expense of thorough stayer Dawson City, who possibly had a valid excuse for a poor run last time, and Themanfromminella, who needs a poor run last time out forgiving but has turned in a solid enough effort previously.