14:50 Taunton

Tuesday 6 February 2024

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Gold Cup Lunch 15th March Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 13.85s

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Selected odds by:

Rewired³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 120| D

13/2

Landed a pair of 2m handicaps at Huntingdon last season and raised his game when notching a fourth hurdles success at Doncaster on return in December. 5 lb rise asks a question but he's a likeable type and another bold show is anticipated.

Form: 22214-1

Bold Reaction⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116| BF| D

13/8

Fairly useful bumper winner who has finished second on 2 of his 3 starts since undergoing a wind op. Chased home Wholeofthemoon in a 19.4f Doncaster handicap last time and merits respect here on the back of that effort, albeit he has a bit to find with Rewired on a line through Wholeofthemoon.

Form: 1/3526-2

Beny Nahar Road^h1,t1⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115

6/1

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat for Richard Hughes and runner-up on first 2 starts over hurdles. Too free when fifth in a 14-runner novice here (good to soft) last time but will be a serious player if settling better on this handicap bow with headgear added.

Form: 225

Three Cliffs Bay⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113| D

25/1

Left hurdles debut behind when winning a 2m Ffos Las novice (heavy) in November. Performed to a similar level when third to a useful type in The Jukebox Man upped to 2½m at the same course since, and he's open to improvement now switched to handicap company.

Form: F37-613

Inoui Machin^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113| D

9/2

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts in bumpers and has finished in the money in a trio of maiden/novice hurdles at up to 19.4f at Doncaster. Beaten by a potentially pretty useful one last time and could be a factor now pitched into a handicap in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 411-332

Chandlers Bay⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 110

14/1

Placed in 2m events at Ffos Las and Plumpton on first 2 completed starts over hurdles last winter. Struggled on return/handicap bow at Lingfield in December and while he should be sharper now, improvement is certainly needed.

Form: F23-6

Winterwatch^t⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: H Fry| OR: 108| D

11/1

Three-time winner on the Flat but below par back on the level last year and similar story returned to hurdles the last twice. Others preferred.

Form: 42/22-54

Gifted Angel⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 120| D

7/1

Unable to win on the Flat but been a different story over hurdles, scoring for third time in this sphere at Kempton (2m, good) in October. By no means disgraced in a heavy-ground Cheltenham Grade 2 last time and, armed with his healthy 4-y-o allowance, he's a big player back in handicap company.

Form: 315115

Greystoke¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 104

125/1

Opened hurdles account at Newton Abbot in May 2022 and hit the target on the Flat last spring. However, well held latest start on the level during the summer and opposable back from a break for new connections.

Form: 73/1426-

Forecasts

Bold Reaction (13/8), Inoui Machin (9/2), Beny Nahar Road (6/1), Rewired (13/2), Gifted Angel (7/1), Winterwatch (11/1), Chandlers Bay (14/1), Three Cliffs Bay (25/1), Greystoke (125/1)

This looks competitive for the grade and BENY NAHAR ROAD tops a shortlist comprising six of the nine due to go to post. He hasn't helped himself by pulling hard on each of his three starts over hurdles but the increased tempo he'll experience now handicapping, together with the addition of a hood/tongue strap, could make all the difference. Gifted Angel is an obvious threat given his 4-y-o allowance, while Inoui Machin and Three Cliffs Bay are, like the selection, interesting handicap debutants.