13:40 Taunton

Thursday 2 March 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

British Racing School 40th Anniversary Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 43.2s

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Selected odds by:

Bertie Wooster²³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 101

8/1

Failed to meet expectations in his only bumper and has yet to better modest form over hurdles but has a good pedigree and is a potential improver on handicap debut.

Form:

Broomfields Cave⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 99

6/4

Point winner who shaped promisingly when third of 14 on handicap debut over C&D (good) 9 days ago, finishing well from a poor position. Must enter the reckoning.

Form:

Ferdinand Star^p1,t1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D Pipe| OR: 99

22/1

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland for Patrick Magee, finishing second in 2m Tramore maiden on final start over there in October. However, has shown little in 3 handicaps for current yard. Tongue strap and cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form:

Lost History^t⁶²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: James Davies| T: Joe Ponting| OR: 98| BF

125/1

Rejuvenated by a yard switch when running out a good winner of a Worcester handicap in May 2021. Failed to meet expectations back there the following month and was sold cheaply out of Dan Skelton's yard later that year.

Form:

Stanley Pincombe¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 92

11/1

Hasn't made much of an impact switched to fences this season and ran badly back over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces (after 12 weeks off) at Lingfield 16 days ago. Plenty to prove at present.

Form:

Coconut Twist^h¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Reed| T: B Barr| OR: 92

80/1

Unplaced in points and just poor form to date in maiden/novice hurdles but it's possible he could do better now switching to a handicap after a break.

Form:

The Rain King^b1,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 91

7/1

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 8.5f). Yet to get near that level over hurdles but ran his best race when 8 lengths third of 12 to Professor Calculus in C&D handicap (good, 10/1) 9 days ago, despite being left poorly placed. Blinkers added to usual tongue strap and has each-way claims with a repeat.

Form:

Professor Calculus^t,v⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 84| CD

16/5

Found a bit of improvement in a first-time visor to get off the mark in 12-runner handicap over C&D (good) 9 days ago, benefiting from enterprising ride. Carries 7 lb penalty and it remains to be seen if he's able to back that up.

Form:

Phoenix Risen^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 89

25/1

Didn't cut much ice in maiden/novice hurdles and has fared no better in 2 handicaps this term, including in a first-time tongue strap at Wincanton last time. Cheekpieces now tried.

Form:

Moscow Spy^p1,t1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 80

18/1

Maiden who shaped as if better for the run on first outing since leaving Jonjo O'Neill after 7 months off when eighth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) 19 days ago, losing place 3 out. Tongue strap and cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form:

Argus^t⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: J E Moore| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 78

33/1

Flat winner but very lightly raced over hurdles in recent times and he doesn't seem to retain much ability.

Form:

Modreeney^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 77| BF

12/1

Fair Irish bumper winner. Little impact over hurdles last season but much more encouraging signs since being fitted with a tongue strap, confirming the improvement he had been showing when falling here in December, when runner-up at Ffos Las (15.8f) 3 weeks ago. Respected back up in trip.

Form:

Christopher Clive^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: Claire Harris| OR: 71

50/1

Little impact for Jeremy Scott last season. Offered a bit more when sixth of 14 in a handicap here on return for a new yard but well held completed start since. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form:

Freddie Fleetfoot⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 68

40/1

Showed only a bit more than previously when eighth of 14 on handicap debut over C&D (good) 9 days ago. More needed.

Form:

Non-Runners

Mammies Boy³²

Weight: 12-1| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Non Runner

Can't Beat History⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Henry Oliver J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

Broomfields Cave (6/4), Can't Beat History (11/4), Professor Calculus (16/5), Mammies Boy (13/2), The Rain King (7/1), Bertie Wooster (8/1), Stanley Pincombe (11/1), Modreeney (12/1), Moscow Spy (18/1), Ferdinand Star (22/1), Phoenix Risen (25/1), Argus (33/1), Freddie Fleetfoot (40/1), Christopher Clive (50/1), Coconut Twist (80/1), Lost History (125/1)

Quite a few with chances but CAN'T BEAT HISTORY went very close on his handicap debut at Doncaster last week and is the percentage call to go one better from the same mark (due to go up 3 lb). Mammies Boy rates a likely improver now handicapping up in trip, while Broomfields Cave shaped well from a poor position over C&D recently and is another to take seriously.