14:30 Taunton

Thursday 8 April 2021

All13:2514:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5517:30

Racing To School Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 56.04s

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Selected odds by:

San Agustin¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 100

11/1

Modest form in 2 bumpers last summer. Similar story in 3 attempts over hurdles but he does appeal as one who could go on to better things now handicapping.

Form: 3-54405

Karakoram^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 96| BF| D

15/2

Fair 2m winning hurdler who also proved consistent last season. Yet to hit top form this term but he is starting to look well treated.

Form: 68F768

Yaazaain⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 94

22/1

Fair maiden on the Flat in France in 2019, but hasn't shown much over hurdles for this yard. Also well held on AW Flat and a jumpers bumper last twice. Tricky to weight up at present.

Form: P-6060

Eva's Diva^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 93

6/1

Lost way for Phil Middleton this season but has shown slightly better signs for new yard. Drops back to 2m now having been eased a further 3 lb in the weights.

Form: P98404

Ventura Magic¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N B King| OR: 93

13/2

Not at best at Hereford last time but his efforts prior to that had been respectable and his mark continues to ease.

Form: 22/P757

Motdepas³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 90

5/1

Poor form over hurdles but did offer more than previously when fifth of 16 in 19f handicap here last month, fading late on. That race has thrown up winners. One of more interesting types.

Form: 7U-P505

Alramz³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 88

28/1

Modest maiden on Flat and beaten a long way starting out for hurdles for new yard in recent months. More chance now handicapping, though.

Form: 0P0

Valentine's Turf²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 85

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler, not disgraced when sixth in 2m Stratford handicap last month but it underlines that he needs a bit more from his mark.

Form: P-0796

Dido²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: C Gethings| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 80

40/1

Six-time winner between the flags but still a maiden under Rules and arrives on the back of 2 moody displays here.

Form: 3445P0

Freedom Chimes^b¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 76

14/1

Long-standing maiden. At least gets a chance to race off his proper mark here, though, and yard have had winners recently.

Form: 0-40U06

Mi Laddo^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 73

6/1

AW Flat winner for this yard in January. Shaped better than result in 2m Plumpton handicap on return to hurdling last month, unable to sustain eye-catching mid-race move. On the shortlist.

Form: UP8756

Thomas Blossom^t¹⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Harper| OR: 67| D

100/1

Poor hurdler/chaser nowadays. Below par when last seen in November and easily opposed from 7 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 040050

Non-Runners

Serjeant Painter²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: Mrs H E Rees J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Valentine's Turf (9/2), Motdepas (5/1), Mi Laddo (6/1), Eva's Diva (6/1), Ventura Magic (13/2), Karakoram (15/2), San Agustin (11/1), Freedom Chimes (14/1), Yaazaain (22/1), Serjeant Painter (25/1), Alramz (28/1), Dido (40/1), Thomas Blossom (100/1)

MOTDEPAS was bang there for a long way over 19f in a deeper race than this here last time so might be worth siding with back over a shorter trip. San Agustin has the profile of one who could do better in handicaps, while Mi Laddo was a bit better than the result suggests back over hurdles last time and is also on the shortlist.