15:50 Taunton

Thursday 14 December 2023

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Christmas Meeting 30th December Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 6m 10.79s

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Selected odds by:

Grass's Jet¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 100

12/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and some promise in novice/maiden hurdles but opening mark could have been kinder.

Form: 2-457

Oscarsman²⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 95

33/1

Plumpton winner in 2019 but he ended last term with a couple of poor efforts and has something to prove on his seasonal return.

Form: 53P4P0-

Let's Go Amigo^v1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 94

8/1

Looked unlucky not to win 10-runner handicap at Ludlow (23.8f) in May, rallying after not clear run before straight. Possibly needed the run more than the market suggested when 27 lengths sixth of 7 to Top Cloud in C&D handicap 14 days ago. Visor on for 1st time.

Form: 784P-36

Gyllen¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: K Woollacott| OR: 93| C

7/2

Took a big step forward on his second run for new yard when landing 19f handicap hurdle (9/2) at this course 14 days ago, unchallenged. Hit with a 13 lb rise, however, and has stamina to prove over this longer trip.

Form: P/346-61

Mactavish²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 92

5/1

Opened his account at Hereford in October and followed up from a 5 lb higher mark with an even better performance back there (21.7f) the following month. Much respected in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 636311

Wot You Wearing^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R Stephens| OR: 91

5/1

Showed an excellent attitude when making it 3 wins from his last 5 starts in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Chepstow (19.4f, soft) 20 days ago, holding on gamely. Step back up in trip could unlock more and remains of interest.

Form: 915311

Be My Sea³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: D Bourne| OR: 90

125/1

Modest handicap hurdler who returned from a long absence with an effort of little promise at Chepstow on debut for current stable. Plenty to prove up in trip.

Form: P56P2/P

Joe Cotton¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 89

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden under Rules who failed to improve switched to a handicap when fifth of 15 at Exeter (21.6f) 18 days ago. Still early days but needs more.

Form: 11-5495

Karakoram^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 87| CD

10/1

C&D winner who confirmed his return to form when sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at this course (19f, good to soft, 5/1) 14 days ago. Player back up in trip.

Form: 60-8736

Samatian^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 84

17/2

Put a disappointing reappearance behind him when third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Ludlow (23.8f, soft) 17 days ago. Unexposed at this trip and seems likely to go well again.

Form: 2224-P3

Non-Runners

Top Cloud¹⁴

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: R L Llewellyn J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

Gyllen (7/2), Joe Cotton (9/2), Wot You Wearing (5/1), Mactavish (5/1), Top Cloud (6/1), Let's Go Amigo (8/1), Samatian (17/2), Karakoram (10/1), Grass's Jet (12/1), Oscarsman (33/1), Be My Sea (125/1)

A competitive handicap with plenty arriving in form. KARAKORAM has dipped below his last winning mark and confirmed his return to form here a couple of weeks ago, so he's the tentative selection. Hat-trick seekers Wot You Wearing and Mactavish head up the opposition.