January 18 / 14.05 Taunton

14.05

Good To Soft

Try Racing TV Free Now At racingtv.com/freetrial Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 7f 198y
  • Class 5
  • 14 runners
RTV
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Try Racing TV Free Now At racingtv.com/freetrial Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £23.00
  • Place: £3.30

Form: 6-833

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Third in mares' maiden races at Lingfield and Southwell on last two starts, latterly over an extended 2m5f; better is needed for this handicap debut but it's not hard to think she can raise her game over 3m+.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Jesuila Des Mottes

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Emma Lavelle

Third in mares' maiden races at Lingfield and Southwell on last two starts, latterly over an extended 2m5f; better is needed for this handicap debut but it's not hard to think she can raise her game over 3m+.

5/1

1st

1

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Jesuila Des Mottes

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Emma Lavelle

Third in mares' maiden races at Lingfield and Southwell on last two starts, latterly over an extended 2m5f; better is needed for this handicap debut but it's not hard to think she can raise her game over 3m+.

5/1

1

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Ffos Las

Jesuila Des Mottes

12st 0lb

T: Emma Lavelle

11/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 6063

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Seen in a much more positive light last time when stepped up from 2m to 3m for handicap debut here (good; 25-1) and finishing 9l third of 15 from off the pace; has the same mark today and seemingly needs to find a bit more but this looks a weak race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Badbury Rings

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Off the mark over hurdles at sixth attempt, coming from the rear and doing it very comfortably under confident Conor O'Farrell ride at Wincanton (3m, soft) 12 days ago; 9lb higher here but still commands respect.

6/4

2nd

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Badbury Rings

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Seen in a much more positive light last time when stepped up from 2m to 3m for handicap debut here (good; 25-1) and finishing 9l third of 15 from off the pace; has the same mark today and seemingly needs to find a bit more but this looks a weak race.

11/2

2nd

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Badbury Rings

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Seen in a much more positive light last time when stepped up from 2m to 3m for handicap debut here (good; 25-1) and finishing 9l third of 15 from off the pace; has the same mark today and seemingly needs to find a bit more but this looks a weak race.

11/2

20/1

  • Place: £5.60

Form: 464

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
£50,000 buy after third in Irish point last April; beaten 26l, 46l and 31l in his three maiden hurdles (2m6f, 2m4f and 2m3f) but going handicapping should offer more realistic prospects; 7lb-claiming amateur is recruited.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:25 Taunton

Babatunde

11st 11lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Richard Mitford-Slade

Perhaps a shade disappointing when dropped back to 2m3f at Chepstow recently but travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third here (3m, good to soft) on last month's handicap debut and remains of interest.

11/2

5th

4

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Babatunde

11st 9lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Richard Mitford-Slade

Lightly raced 6yo who travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third on handicap debut at Taunton (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; today's drop back in trip looks the right move; interesting.

7/1

4

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Babatunde

11st 9lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Richard Mitford-Slade

Lightly raced 6yo who travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third on handicap debut at Taunton (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; today's drop back in trip looks the right move; interesting.

7/1

Form: 3658/

Last run: 671 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
2m4f maiden point winner in 2022; third on rules debut in a bumper that November but singularly failed to reproduce the form in three starts over hurdles that season; returns from 671 days off and is tongue tied for handicap debut over a new trip; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Talkingtothemoon

10st 12lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

2m4f maiden point winner in 2022; third on rules debut in a bumper that November but singularly failed to reproduce the form in three starts over hurdles that season; returns from 671 days off and is tongue tied for handicap debut over a new trip; worth a market check.

14/1

4th

8

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Talkingtothemoon

10st 12lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

2m4f maiden point winner in 2022; third on rules debut in a bumper that November but singularly failed to reproduce the form in three starts over hurdles that season; returns from 671 days off and is tongue tied for handicap debut over a new trip; worth a market check.

14/1

8th

6

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

13:30 Chepstow

Talkingtothemoon

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Point winner; encouraging rules debut in a bumper here in November; minor promise in two hurdle starts since but handicaps likely to be his forte after this.

20/1

Form: P5-641 CD

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Favourite in ten-runner contest over C&D (good to soft) in November for his second handicap and registered a clearcut win, responding well to lead between the last two flights; up 6lb but looks the type to improve further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

27th Mar 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:57 Warwick

Honey Jack

11st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Clearcut winner of his second handicap start (3m, good to soft) and a tongue-tie is now added after reportedly making a noise back at Taunton last time; 6lb higher than for his win but firmly enters the reckoning.

5/1

5th

6

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Honey Jack

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Favourite in ten-runner contest over C&D (good to soft) in November for his second handicap and registered a clearcut win, responding well to lead between the last two flights; up 6lb but looks the type to improve further.

7/2

5th

6

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Honey Jack

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Favourite in ten-runner contest over C&D (good to soft) in November for his second handicap and registered a clearcut win, responding well to lead between the last two flights; up 6lb but looks the type to improve further.

7/2

20/1

Form: 29504F

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Placed twice in 2m novice hurdles on good ground last June; no great impact in five starts since and he's now 0-18 overall after falling two out in a 2m3f handicap here last time, when minor honours looked a stretch; Flat bred but takes a big step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:07 Worcester

Kintaro

10st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

0-15 over hurdles, with a very mixed record; ran quite well when third here (2m4f, good) last month but was well held in the end; not bred for fences and makes only limited appeal on this chasing debut.

12/1

9

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Worcester

Kintaro

10st 4lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Tailed off over C&D last month and now 0-14 over hurdles; urgently needs to prove some ability remains.

16/1

12th

14

25th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Kintaro

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

His two best RPRs were recorded here last summer, albeit over 2m (good); two below-par efforts since April's serviceable third in a novice seller at Exeter and he has work on from 3lb out of the handicap.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: -32764

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Placed over about 2m/2m1f (also ran well over 1m7f latest start) but underperformed last July when upped to 2m3f and that is the furthest he's been.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:56 Newton Abbot

Ellerton

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made it 2-3 for Joe Tizzard when scoring back from another break at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good; 100-30) two weeks ago; up 5lb but that was a comfortable win from off the pace and this step back up in trip should be fine (first hurdle win was over 2m4f); big player.

11/8

1st

3

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

19:00 Newton Abbot

Ellerton

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

First run for Joe Tizzard when justifying market confidence at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March last year and unlikely he gave his true running when well beaten after a 7lb rise at Taunton in November; could be given another chance, though lengthy breaks have become a feature in his profile.

9/2

Form: 590

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
French-bred 5yo; dark horse as he was soundly beaten over 2m in his three hurdle races (200-1 at Hereford last time) but now tries blinkers and 3m for his handicap debut, representing a red-hot yard; market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Kick For Touch

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

French-bred 5yo; dark horse as he was soundly beaten over 2m in his three hurdle races (200-1 at Hereford last time) but now tries blinkers and 3m for his handicap debut, representing a red-hot yard; market can guide.

10/1

8th

14

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Kick For Touch

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

French-bred 5yo; dark horse as he was soundly beaten over 2m in his three hurdle races (200-1 at Hereford last time) but now tries blinkers and 3m for his handicap debut, representing a red-hot yard; market can guide.

10/1

Form: 476-74

Last run: 62 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten, including in two handicaps over 3m and another over 2m6f; had wind surgery since latest start, with a tongue-tie also now enlisted, and they need to work wonders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:20 Fontwell

Nordic Storm

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Not fully exposed after only eight runs but unplaced all seven hurdling starts before struggling on last month's chasing debut (bled from the nose); leap of faith is required to support him here.

12/1

7th

7

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:18 Hereford

Nordic Storm

10st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

prominent, lost position 4th, slow jump 5th, dropped to last 7th, reminders 10th, tailed off from 3 out (usual 4 out)

16/1

9th

10

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Nordic Storm

10st 9lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Joe Tizzard

Soundly beaten, including in two handicaps over 3m and another over 2m6f; had wind surgery since latest start, with a tongue-tie also now enlisted, and they need to work wonders.

16/1

Form: 20-674

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; 15l second in a soft-ground bumper here in February but has shown only minor promise front-running in her three hurdle races this season (2m5f, 2m and 2m3f); the new trip needs a major response on this handicap debut and there is some stamina in the pedigree.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

17:42 Ffos Las

Calli Black

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: David Weston

Won readily at Worcester (2m4f, good) last spring and is still lightly raced over fences but her subsequent three runs (latest was over hurdles) were disappointing and she's 2lb wrong on first outing since December.

25/1

Form: /4P0-P D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 1lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pontresina

11st 1lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ben Lund

411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.

50/1

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pontresina

11st 1lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ben Lund

411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.

50/1

7

21st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

13:03 Hereford

Pontresina

11st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Ben Lund

An 11yo returning from 411 days away and wasn't looking the force of old when last seen; too much to prove.

33/1

Form: 44-4

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Placed twice in Irish points; soundly beaten when fourth on all three starts over hurdles, upped to 2m7f for his handicap debut last time; now tries headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Bennettsbridge

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Placed twice in Irish points; soundly beaten when fourth on all three starts over hurdles, upped to 2m7f for his handicap debut last time; now tries headgear.

10/1

9

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Bennettsbridge

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Placed twice in Irish points; soundly beaten when fourth on all three starts over hurdles, upped to 2m7f for his handicap debut last time; now tries headgear.

10/1

Form: 756-5U

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
0-8 for Paul Webber; confirmed he has some ability on return for new yard and he was travelling okay in third when unseating four out in handicap at Wetherby (upped to 3m; 6-1) three weeks ago; that was a long way out but he needs a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Glengolly

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when gaining breakthrough win at Hereford (3m1f, soft) in December, his 13th hurdle run, and has been placed on three of his four starts since; would appeal more on ground slower than good but still enters calculations; swaps usual cheekpieces for visor.

8/1

3rd

4

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Glengolly

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

The tongue-tie went on for last four starts, breaking his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) on first occasion and creditable runner-up in two of his three starts since; the exception can be forgiven on heavy ground at Ffos Las; the tongue-tie is removed this time and he's not proven on good, but otherwise he has solid each-way claims.

6/1

2nd

2

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Glengolly

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Broke his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) in December, fitted with a tongue-tie, and backed that up with another solid effort behind a big improver at Uttoxeter; can be forgiven recent Ffos Las run where the ground went against him and he's worth considering.

7/1

Form: 2/68-P

Last run: 71 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Modest dual 1m4f Flat winner; showed something over hurdles in spring 2023 over the minimum trip but little when returned to this sphere for 2m handicap in November; trying an extra mile today is not greatly persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Alkhattaaf

10st 6lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Chris Down

Runner-up in maiden hurdle here (1m7f, good to soft) in April 2023 and won AW handicap 13 days later; however, following a long absence he's been pulled up in two handicap hurdles this season and has plenty to prove.

50/1

5th

11

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Alkhattaaf

10st 6lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Chris Down

Runner-up in maiden hurdle here (1m7f, good to soft) in April 2023 and won AW handicap 13 days later; however, following a long absence he's been pulled up in two handicap hurdles this season and has plenty to prove.

50/1

13

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Alkhattaaf

10st 6lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Chris Down

Modest dual 1m4f Flat winner; showed something over hurdles in spring 2023 over the minimum trip but little when returned to this sphere for 2m handicap in November; trying an extra mile today is not greatly persuasive.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £60.50
Straight Forecast £62.66
Tricast £783.05
Trifecta £2280.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Honey Jack

SPOTLIGHT:

Jesuila Des Mottes

The Times:

Ellerton

The Guardian:

Glengolly

The Sun:

Badbury Rings

Daily Mail:

Bennettsbridge

Daily Mirror:

Kintaro

Telegraph:

Jesuila Des Mottes

POSTDATA:

Honey Jack

WEST COUNTRY:

Honey Jack

Daily Record:

Honey Jack

D Express:

Ellerton

The Star:

Glengolly