January 08 / 14.15 Taunton

14.15

Soft

Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8343.98
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
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Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 20-321 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Bumper win was on soft; way behind Sorceleur when they appeared in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last April; placed, however, on first two hurdling starts (short-headed on second occasion) and comfortably made all when favourite for handicap debut in eight-runner race over C&D (good to soft) nine days ago; able to race off the same mark today, so has a major chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:42 Uttoxeter

Tom Doniphon

10st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Won twice over hurdles at Taunton over 2m3f for previous yard; after a promising chase debut at Aintree in October he took a backward step at Exeter the following month; returns from a seven-month break with new trainer but may need to go back up in trip to find a winning opportunity.

7/1

4th

3

26th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 176y

Class 3

13:15 Aintree

Tom Doniphon

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Low-mileage 6yo who came good over hurdles with two 2m3f wins at Taunton (good to soft/soft) last winter; absent since 2m4f second at Sandown in February but should cope with the drop back in trip on this chasing debut and has some Irish pointing experience to call upon.

7/2

1

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 4

16:45 Sandown

Tom Doniphon

12st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won readily on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) and again had something to spare there (2m3f, soft) nine days later, when unpenalised; hit with 8lb rise but this unexposed 6yo could still be well treated.

2/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 15-211 C

Last run: 60 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
His bumper win was at this track (soft) by 15l last February; found one too good when odds-on for hurdling debut (2m2f) but readily went one better when long odds-on at Exeter (2m) and Wincanton (1m7f) on consecutive days in November, both on good; this handicap debut demands more but he brings clear promise and should stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

26th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:20 Sandown

Sorceleur

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Two novice wins in November and generally consistent otherwise; ties in with some of these rivals on Sandown (Imperial Cup) and Southwell form the last twice; solid contender who should give his running.

6/1

9th

9

26th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:20 Sandown

Sorceleur

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Two novice wins in November and generally consistent otherwise; ties in with some of these rivals on Sandown (Imperial Cup) and Southwell form the last twice; solid contender who should give his running.

6/1

3rd

2

15th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:15 Southwell

Sorceleur

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, lost ground when not fluent last, weakened and lost position run-in

7/2

5/1

Form: 2113-4 BF

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
2-4 as a juvenile hurdler last season; finished tired when third on handicap debut in March and flopped (made late mistakes) when favourite for chase debut at Chepstow in November; back to hurdling and moves up in trip; needs to bounce back but early days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

18:20 Fontwell

Valadon

11st 3lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Scored with a tongue-tie added at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) last month and he ran to a similar level when a 2l third at Wincanton (2m4f, good) last time; has been as good as ever in those last two runs and he won this race last year; respected.

7/2

3rd

8

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Valadon

10st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Back in prime form when scoring in first-time tongue-tie at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft; front pair clear) a fortnight ago and now 4-10 over hurdles; recent 4lb rise does not look excessive and he should be fine on the faster ground here; likely contender.

4/1

1st

2

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Valadon

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Pulled up on seasonal debut but fared better when fourth (albeit tired and well held in the end) at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) in January and is now only 1lb higher than for last spring's Fontwell win (2m5f, good); contender if aided by new tongue-tie.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 30-62P

Last run: 114 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Both wins were in his novice days three years ago; mixed form since and unconvincing in his four chases, the latest last September; tongue tied last five starts, plus cheekpieces on last two; has changed hands and left Paul Nicholls.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Worcester

Silent Revolution

10st 7lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Barry John Murphy

Out of sorts for Alison Thorpe last year and well beaten on both starts for new stable this spring, the latter in a selling handicap; sports first-time hood here; could be considered only if lively in the betting.

33/1

11th

8

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Silent Revolution

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Barry John Murphy

His good days are long gone and he has been regressing for a while; made no impact on stable debut.

12/1

7th

4

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 16y

Class 5

14:18 Chepstow

Silent Revolution

11st 8lb

J: Dylan O’Connor

T: Barry John Murphy

Useful in his prime; badly out of sorts for Alison Thorpe last year (five runs) but makes stable debut from a very dangerous mark and with the trip/ground suitable; well worth keeping an eye on in the betting.

12/1

Form: 215PP-

Last run: 262 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
One win each over hurdles and fences for Willie Mullins in Ireland, but pulled up on last two outings for him (tongue tied; bled on second occasion) and sold for £4,500 last May; first hurdle race since 2021 and probably best watched for the time being.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:15 Taunton

Henn See

11st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alexandra Dunn

in rear, headway before 6th, lost ground and struggling after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out

33/1

Form: /34-51 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
His first three races were for two other yards; ran in two handicaps for new stable and raised his game to get off the mark in seven-runner race at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on latest, coming home strongly from off the pace despite some iffy jumping; up 4lb but probably still capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

27th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Coastal Rock

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

raced lazily at times, prominent, dropped to midfield before 7th, pushed along and led after 3 out, ridden out and went clear run-in

8/11

1st

2

7th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Coastal Rock

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

His first three races were for two other yards; ran in three handicaps for current stable, on second occasion coming home strongly from off the pace to win seven-runner race at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) despite some iffy jumping; however, he showed little at Taunton (2m3f, soft) one month ago; very mixed messages, therefore, despite the likely benefit on new trip.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.60
Straight Forecast £2.94
Trifecta £9.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tom Doniphon

The Guardian:

Sorceleur

TOPSPEED:

Valadon

The Times:

Coastal Rock

Daily Mail:

Sorceleur

Daily Mirror:

Sorceleur

The Sun:

Sorceleur

Daily Record:

Sorceleur

RP RATINGS:

Tom Doniphon

POSTDATA:

Tom Doniphon

WEST COUNTRY:

Tom Doniphon

Telegraph:

Tom Doniphon

D Express:

Tom Doniphon

The Star:

Tom Doniphon