12:40 Taunton

Thursday 16 November 2023

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3316:05

Jeremy Parsons 60th Birthday Celebration Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 7.91s

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Selected odds by:

Tiger Voice¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 99| D

80/1

Winning hurdler/chaser for Henry de Bromhead in Ireland and while he made a very low-key start for present yard last season, there were green shoots of recovery when fifth in an 8-runner Ffos Las handicap (15.8f, good to firm) in May. Down another 4 lb and he's one to keep an eye on.

Form: 945P6-5

Borderline⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard| T: M Keighley| OR: 97

22/1

Placed twice from 3 starts in bumpers (fair form) and left previous efforts over hurdles behind when fourth at Newton Abbot in August. However, he failed to build on that pitched into a handicap for the first time at Warwick a month later.

Form: 35-6945

Lady Gwen²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁸⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 97

9/2

Improved to make a winning reappearance for her new yard at Stratford (18.5f, good to soft) in July. Went close following a wind op at Worcester last month and subsequent fourth in a big-field Exeter handicap was respectable, so she's one to consider.

Form: 74-1524

Odin's Quest¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 96| D

22/1

Bumper winner who built on earlier promise when landing weak Wincanton maiden hurdle in April. However, pulled up both subsequent starts, including on recent reappearance at Huntingdon, and he now has a point to prove.

Form: 54P1-PP

Platinumcard^b1,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁸⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 96| D

33/1

Well-handicapped judged on peak form in Ireland for Gordon Elliott, but he hasn't shown much at all in 5 starts since joining present yard. Hopes here very much pinned on the first-time blinkers sparking a revival.

Form: 409-7P6

Sassified^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 94

18/5

Notched third success of the year when readily seeing off 11 rivals at Fontwell (19f, good) last month. Slow ground probably wasn't ideal at Exeter last time and, with conditions likely to be more suitable here, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 311517

Johnny Boom²²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Bromley| T: S Lycett| OR: 93

20/1

Well held all 4 starts over hurdles for Brian Ellison, the latest of which was his handicap debut in this sphere back in March 2022. However, in good form on the AW laster winter and into the spring (won at Wolverhampton when last seen in April), and he's well worth a second look back hurdling.

Form: 6P59/

Zuraig¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 91

100/1

Winner of a Leicester seller on the Flat in May, but has otherwise struggled on the level this year and he hasn't cut much ice in 5 previous starts over hurdles.

Form: 83/37-5

Stiletto^b1,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Kimber| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 91| BF

11/2

Still a maiden under both codes, but he has gone agonisingly close in handicap hurdles at Fontwell (3¼m, good) and Wincanton (24.7f, soft) the last twice. Now tried in blinkers and the big question is whether this significant drop back in trip will work in his favour or not.

Form: 2-44422

Uncle Arthur¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 87| D

7/2

Modest form over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies and got no further than the first fence on return/chase debut for new yard at Bangor. However. he shaped with more encouragement returned to this sphere at Chepstow (2m, soft) recently and could have a part to play here.

Form: 405-6U4

Triple Nickle^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Quinlan| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 86| BF

50/1

Fair dual-purpose performer on her day, but she safely held back from almost 13 months off on the Flat at Windsor last month.

Form: 2457/63-

Lightning Attack¹⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 84

50/1

Won pair of Market Rasen handicap hurdles for Ben Haslam during the first half of last year, but there have not been many positives to glean from his efforts since joining this yard.

Form: 0013/18-

Merry Monty^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 80

10/3

Modest form in bumpers/novice hurdles in 2021/2, but he didn't shape at all badly when fifth in an 18-runner race at Exeter last month. Possibilities here if able to build on that.

Form: 05857/5

Boudica Warrior⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: N F Houlihan| T: J Tickle| OR: 80

150/1

Fair maiden on Flat, but she'll need to step considerably on what she's shown over hurdles thus far in order to play a part in the finish.

Form: 34P-

Harde Fashion³³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Ring| T: D Bourne| OR: 79

25/1

Went close on hurdles debut starting out for present yard at Stratford in October 2021, but he's otherwise offered little.

Form: 74/P60P-

Forecasts

Merry Monty (10/3), Uncle Arthur (7/2), Sassified (18/5), Lady Gwen (9/2), Stiletto (11/2), Johnny Boom (20/1), Odin's Quest (22/1), Borderline (22/1), Harde Fashion (25/1), Platinumcard (33/1), Lightning Attack (50/1), Triple Nickle (50/1), Tiger Voice (80/1), Zuraig (100/1), Boudica Warrior (150/1)

It's worth giving another chance to UNCLE ARTHUR, who wasn't entirely disgraced at Chepstow last time and he will have every chance in this company if on-song. Sassified's claims will be enhanced should the rain stay away and he is next on the list ahead of Merry Monty. Stiletto thoroughly deserves to get his head in front and can be expected to do just that before long, but this significant drop back in trip may not be ideal.