13:05 Taunton

Tuesday 9 January 2018

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Somerset Chamber Of Commerce Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:07 | Winning time: 6m 24.9s

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Selected odds by:

As I See It²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry

5/2

Beaten 3¼L when runner up to subsequent Bangor winner Samuel Jackson in a stronger C&D novice event last month. Sets the benchmark for the others to aim towards.

Form: 31-542

Blackmill¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| D

50/1

Has proved himself capable in point-to-points (three time winner), but hasn't seen very much racing of late. Blew up over a similar trip at Exeter last month (soft), but could be sharper for that effort.

Form: 2111/4-5

Brynmawr³¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115

22/1

Double Trigger gelding for whom a test of stamina is important. Showed improvement in novice company in early 2017, when twice a runner up at Fontwell (2m3f) and Wincanton (2m5f+), but makes his first start in over 10 months.

Form: P/F7422-

Coup De Pinceau⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

2/1

A bumper winner on his first two career starts (2m), and has shown a reasonable level of form over hurdles despite a lengthy gap of 11 months between his two runner up efforts. Stamina to truly prove over 3m.

Form: 1/12-26

Earth Storm⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber

50/1

A winner of a fast ground 2m4f point-to-point in April, he finished in the ruck on debut under rules (hurdles) at Kempton in November. Upped in trip with further progress anticipated.

Form: 1-7

Golden Sunrise³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123

5/2

Stowaway gelding who is yet to get off the mark over hurdles, but has shown a decent level of ability in each of his last two starts. Backed up a solid run at Exeter (2m5f+) with a 3L second to Chooseyourweapon at Chepstow latest (2m3f+).

Form: 4-732

Max Milan¹¹¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: D W P Arbuthnot

66/1

Off the track since December 2014, so clearly a horse with plenty of issues. His pedigree suggests that he could be okay, which is probably why his trainer has persevered. Watching brief only.

Form: 6/

Pistol Shoot^p⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 107

40/1

Found the target when winning on his second career start under rules at Stratford in June (bumper). Fair to say that he's not improved since switched to hurdles, albeit, he has clashed with some fairly reasonable rivals. Not one for today.

Form: 251274

Robin De Broome¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: B Barr

200/1

Runner up in an Irish point-to-point at Stradbally in May (3m good), but hasn't shown up well in similar races to this one since switched to these shores, and is readily overlooked.

Form: F3-2P0P

Sir Mix

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke

100/1

Unraced Fair Mix gelding who cost £4,000 as a four-year-old. Half-brother to 2m hurdle winner Bruichladdich, so should make the grade in handicap company with time and experience.

Form:

Twentyoneblackjack¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Stock⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley

150/1

Offered nothing of note on either start so far, and was pulled up on hurdles debut at Towcester (2m5f) last month. Seemingly holds little realistic chance.

Form: 9P

Vodka All The Way⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/1

Oscar gelding who was placed on his final start in a bumper at Chepstow in April (subsequent Tolworth Hurdle participant Mont Des Avaloirs runner up). Finished a couple of places behind As I See It when sixth on hurdles bow at Wincanton (2m5f).

Form: 573-6

Applesolutely³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| D

20/1

Mare who has won twice in eight starts in point-to-points, with her first season rules trainer also responsible for recent C&D winner Samuel Jackson. Her sole start under rules came in a Uttoxeter bumper in May 2016 (for Philip Hobbs).

Form: 2/0342-2

Non-Runners

Madame Fiona⁴²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: M Keighley J: Andrew Tinkler

Forecasts

Coup De Pinceau (2/1), As I See It (5/2), Golden Sunrise (5/2), Vodka All The Way (10/1), Applesolutely (20/1), Brynmawr (22/1), Madame Fiona (25/1), Pistol Shoot (40/1), Blackmill (50/1), Earth Storm (50/1), Max Milan (66/1), Sir Mix (100/1), Twentyoneblackjack (150/1), Robin De Broome (200/1)

Another sizeable field, no doubt attracted by a decent racing surface for the time of the year, but a race in which those with winning chances are fairly obvious. Nicholls (Coup De Pinceau), Tizzard (Brynmawr and Golden Sunrise) and Hobbs (Vodka All The Way) are all represented. The Richard Mitford-Slade trained mare Applesolutely is certainly worthy of inspection given his recent training exploits with Samuel Jackson, and it is in fact that line of form which should produce the winner. AS I SEE IT lost little in defeat over C&D last month, and he sets the benchmark in this contest, eased slightly in grade dropping back into a maiden hurdle.