16:10 Taunton

Thursday 14 November 2019

All12:5513:2514:0014:3515:0515:4016:10

Taunton Racecourse Business Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 12.55s

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Selected odds by:

Le Ligerien^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116

9/1

Didn't need to improve to land a maiden hurdle at Fontwell in March, and has been let down by his jumping on both starts since, the latest after a break at Fontwell last month. Can go well if avoiding mistakes, but risky.

Form: 22210-6

Working Class³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115| D

18/1

Raised 3lb after producing another good effort to finish second at Warwick (2m5f) on penultimate start, and best to ignore lesser effort at Exeter since when hampered in the run. Not dismissed.

Form: 42-4125

Annsam¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 114

33/1

Won maiden at Wincanton in May, and probably needed the run when 21L sixth of 9 to Aweeminit in handicap there late last month. Should do better, but his mark does look stiff on balance.

Form: 53-16

Bang On²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 113| CD

11/2

Won a C&D novice just under a year ago, but better judged on third in an amateur riders' handicap at Sandown in March. Below that form when last seen, and needs to improve to take this.

Form: 416034-

Playa Blanca¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 112| D

20/1

Well held on handicap bow at Ascot, and did a little better when 13¾L fourth of 9 to Aweeminit in similar event at Wincanton last time. Entitled to have needed that, but has a fair bit to find.

Form: 73810-4

Borak^p,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 109| CD

22/1

Hard to catch right, but was back to form out of the blue when landing a 5-runner C&D handicap late last month. Wouldn't be certain to repeat that given his patchy profile, but folly to ignore.

Form: 6-437B1

Pagero²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 108

8/1

Expensive purchase from France who has so far failed to live up to expectations for connections. Encouraging seasonal return was followed by an underwhelming handicap debut, finishing eighth of 12 to Sebastopol at Wincanton. More required.

Form: 703-28

Dusky Hercules¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 107

16/1

Some fair efforts in novices last year, and may have needed the run when 23L third of 13 to Scardura in a C&D maiden on return/after wind surgery. Worth a market check, for all that form is only modest.

Form: 7/548-3

Sir Psycho^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117

5/6

Much improved from hurdles debut when landing a 12-runner juvenile at Wincanton last time by 9L from Twenty Years On. Goes handicapping with benefit of handy 3-y-o allowance, and hard to oppose.

Form: 41

Limelighter²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 114| D

12/1

Another three-year-old taking on older horses. Won juvenile hurdle at Plumpton in September and has run at least as well to be placed on both handicap starts at Huntingdon and Ludlow. Won't be far away again.

Form: 61432

Forecasts

Sir Psycho (5/6), Bang On (11/2), Pagero (8/1), Le Ligerien (9/1), Limelighter (12/1), Dusky Hercules (16/1), Working Class (18/1), Playa Blanca (20/1), Borak (22/1), Annsam (33/1)

The two juveniles in this field get a 16lb weight-for-age allowance, and while Limelighter is sure to go well after being placed on both handicaps to date, the verdict goes in confident fashion to handicap debutant SIR PSYCHO, who won easily at Wincanton and is totally unexposed. Dusky Hercules is probably better than he showed on his return here, and merits a market check.