16:20 Taunton

Monday 14 March 2022

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:50

William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 14.28s

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Selected odds by:

Abaya Du Mathan^b,t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 107

20/1

Dual chase winner in France last year, but yet to make an impact on this side of the Channel and hopes now pinned on this drop in trip helping to spark a revival.

Form: PF4F4P

Balkardy¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 99

7/1

Got on top close home when off the mark in a handicap hurdle at Exeter (16.7f) in November. Not seen to best effect all 3 starts since and claims on chase debut if his jumping passes the test.

Form: 451545

Majestic Merlin^p,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 92| BF

2/1

Hasn't really progressed over fences and record stands at 0-12 overall. Conversely, he wasn't disgraced in first-time cheekpieces (retained here) at Ludlow (2m) recently and is now 2 lb lower.

Form: 3-33634

Loup De Maulde¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 88| BF

11/1

Made a promising start over fences/in handicaps when third of 9 off this mark at Hereford (2m) in November. However, absent since a poor effort over the same C&D later that month.

Form: 294336

Annie Nail^h1,t1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 85| BF

14/1

Hinted at ability on Rules debut, but has offered little in 3 subsequent starts, including on first run over fences at Market Rasen last month.

Form: F589P

Pola Chance^b³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 84

11/4

Hurdles winner in January 2020 and, though below par initially following a lengthy absence, she responded well to the fitting of blinkers when runner-up here (18.2f) last time. One to consider.

Form: 14/0462

Royal Plaza^t¹⁷⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 83| C| D

16/1

Successful here off 2 lb higher last spring and went down fighting when second in a 4-runner affair at Warwick (16.2f) on latest start in September. He's not the most reliable of types, though.

Form: 1-26522

Royal Act^b¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 76| CD

8/1

Ended a long losing run from 6 lb out of handicap at Bangor (17.4f) in January. Has typically failed to reproduce form akin to that in 2 subsequent starts, but definite chance here if on a going day.

Form: 2-4P185

Master Mikey Dee⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Reed| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 70

16/1

Poor maiden hurdler who is hard to warm to now switched to fences.

Form: 365007

Forecasts

Majestic Merlin (2/1), Pola Chance (11/4), Balkardy (7/1), Royal Act (8/1), Loup De Maulde (11/1), Annie Nail (14/1), Master Mikey Dee (16/1), Royal Plaza (16/1), Abaya Du Mathan (20/1)

It's worth giving another chance to MAJESTIC MERLIN, who is now 11 lb lower compared to the start of the season and a reproduction of his effort here when third in February would probably suffice. If Balkardy takes to fences at the first attempt, he will be a live danger and Pola Chance is also accorded respect on the back of a solid effort at this course.