15:30 Taunton

Monday 8 January 2024

All12:5513:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:05

Geoffrey Bosley 'Tally Ho' Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 41.2s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Bennys King^p²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

9/1

Reinvigorated by a switch to hunters and fitting of cheekpieces last season, winning twice and fine second in the Aintree Foxhunter (all under Heidi Palin). Ran poorly in a couple of handicaps this winter without cheekpieces but the headgear returns now back in a hunter.

Form: 1U12-PP

D'jango^t⁸⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss Immy Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Collins| OR: 100| D

66/1

More miss than hit over fences since his Lingfield success last February, including back hurdling last twice. Best watched on this first outing for a new yard after leaving David Pipe.

Form: 7V2488

Great D'Ange^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Myles Osborne⁽⁷⁾| T: M Osborne| OR: 104

100/1

Won 3m Market Rasen handicap chase for Robbie Llewellyn in September. Good second next time but pulled up at Chepstow in October and a remote fourth in a point on last month's stable debut.

Form: PP12P4

Senior Citizen³³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr H Myddelton⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 137

14/1

Useful handicap chaser, winning over 3m at Doncaster at a similar time last year. Player if primed for this first outing in 11 months.

Form: 38/0716-

Shantou Flyer^b,t⁴³

Age: 14| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss N Parker⁽³⁾| T: S Loxton| OR: 134| D

10/3

Third in the Foxhunter at last year's Cheltenham Festival before notching wins at Exeter in April and Stratford in June. Warmed up for this with a point win 6 weeks ago. A bold bid looks assured.

Form: U31-211

The Big Lense^p,t²⁰⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Alex Chadwick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Owen| OR: 130

22/1

Back to winning ways in Aintree handicap chase when last seen in June. Should have a part to play if ready to roll after 6 months off.

Form: 264-341

Yccs Portocervo^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 122

15/2

Won back to back at Uttoxeter at the beginning of the summer. Last month's Fakenham third was no more than respectable and he has a bit to find with a couple of these.

Form: 43-1163

Lakota Warrior²²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Edwards| T: D Summersby| OR: 117| BF

50/1

Hurdle and chase winner during his time with Dan Skelton. In decent form in the pointing field when last seen in the spring but a watching brief is advised back from a break.

Form: F272-12

Diligent²²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Charlie Sprake⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs K M Sanderson| OR: 115| C| D

20/1

Multiple winner for Nigel Hawke. Also placed in hunters for this yard last spring but has a 7-month absence to overcome here.

Form: 14523-2

Walkin Out^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: L Jefford| OR: 106| BF

9/1

Multiple point winner who made it second time lucky in hunters at Cartmel in May. Should be sharper for an outing in a point last month but improvement will be needed to play a leading role here.

Form: 514-115

Regatta De Blanc⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr William Biddick| T: W Biddick

6/5

Took her point record to 3-3 when taking a Larkhill restricted in November. It'll be very interesting to see what the betting makes of this Will Biddick mare on her Rules debut

Form: 11-1

Non-Runners

Shang Tang³⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: Miss H Brookshaw J: Miss Aimee Jones

Forecasts

Regatta De Blanc (6/5), Shantou Flyer (10/3), Yccs Portocervo (15/2), Bennys King (9/1), Walkin Out (9/1), Senior Citizen (14/1), Shang Tang (20/1), Diligent (20/1), The Big Lense (22/1), Lakota Warrior (50/1), D'jango (66/1), Great D'Ange (100/1)

SHANTOU FLYER is 14 now but was still one of the best hunters around last season and a point win this winter suggests there's still plenty of life in his legs. It would be no surprise to see Bennys King leave recent handicap efforts behind now refitted with the cheekpieces he wore to good effect last season and he's second choice ahead of the returning Senior Citizen. Will Biddick's unbeaten pointer Regatta de Blanc is another interesting contender.