April 23 / 19.30 Taunton

19.30

Good To Firm

Ron Hatton Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5545.05
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Ron Hatton Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £3.70

Form: -3P116 C BF

Last run: 127 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Came good when scoring here (2m, good to firm) and at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in November; disappointing in hat-trick bid in December but he's had another wind op since and looks worth another try at this trip; needs watching in market on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

American Land

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Prolific between November 2024 and June 2025, with his four wins in that spell including two here; his progress seemed to stall subsequently but he ran well when second of five to a progressive winner at Chepstow (2m, good) last time and could be in the mix; effective on good to soft.

4/1

2nd

4

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

19:07 Chepstow

American Land

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Taunton win this time last year was the first leg of an eventual hat-trick (2m1f-2m3f) all recorded on good or quicker surfaces, so drying forecast is all to the good; chance, assuming he's not goaded into making the same sorts of errors as on his recent return here.

6/1

4th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

American Land

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has won five of his last seven races and he might be high in the weights now having come up well short (beaten 13l) on final sighting at Newton Abbot in October (2m1f); on the plus side, he's back at Class 4 level and has won over this far; others are preferred.

10/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 5-1212

Last run: 184 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won four times in Jersey last year (twice over hurdles) and he landed a Bath handicap (1m6f, good to firm) on his return 19 days ago; that was his 17th career win and he's respected back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(7)

22nd May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:08 Bath

Man Of The Sea

9st 6lb

J: David Probert

T: Neil Mulholland

Veteran whose two 2025 wins were at this track over 1m6f and 1m5f; placed twice over hurdles last November but last week's run in that sphere (after a Flat reappearance here) was disappointing and dents his appeal.

8/1

4th

1

12th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

16:45 Hereford

Man Of The Sea

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

In good form without winning (runner-up over 2m3f at Taunton) before Christmas and should be sharper for a recent fifth on the Flat at Bath; this veteran needs considering.

6/1

5th

6

(4)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Man Of The Sea

8st 6lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Neil Mulholland

Has done a lot of his winning in Jersey but he scored here (1m5f, firm) in the autumn and was runner-up over hurdles at Taunton (2m3f) in his final run in 2025; returns after 141 days off but he needs watching in market back on the Flat.

3/1

Form: 33-UP2

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Won 2m maiden at Fakenham in May 2022; off for long time after but he's run some good races in the last 15 months including when runner-up at Plumpton (2m, good) 17 days ago; this step back up in trip is no problem and he could go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Jubilee Gold

10st 8lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

9yo who was runner-up at Hexham (2m, good) in May but that was a seller and he didn't jump well before being pulled up on Plumpton reappearance last month; hurdles record is now 1-13 and others are preferred.

8/1

2

21st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

16:20 Plumpton

Jubilee Gold

11st 11lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Signed off for his previous yard with competitive efforts in 2m-2m3f handicaps on good or quicker ground; mark hasn't really gone anywhere so he's entitled to be involved if resuming from a break in similar order.

8/1

2nd

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:28 Hexham

Jubilee Gold

11st 1lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

in touch with leaders, not fluent 5th, outpaced before 2 out, rallied to lead before last, no extra and headed final 110yds

3/1

Form: -3P613 CD BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Recorded his second hurdle win when scoring over C&D (good) in December; had a break after that but he returned to action with a 2l third back over C&D last month; should be sharper this time and he's still unexposed at this trip; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Kempton

Him Malaya

11st 13lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Ran respectably at Taunton (2m3f) in April when last seen, taking record under Olive Nicholls to 13134; shapes as if this step back up in trip is worth exploring; solid claims.

7/2

4th

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:30 Taunton

Him Malaya

12st 1lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Recorded his second hurdle win when scoring over C&D (good) in December; had a break after that but he returned to action with a 2l third back over C&D last month; should be sharper this time and he's still unexposed at this trip; respected.

9/4

Form: 495232

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 4yo; record of 0-7 but he's been placed in the last three of his four runs for current yard including when runner-up at Stratford (2m2f, good to soft) last month; untried on quicker than good to soft but he still has potential and needs a close look on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

El Gavilan

11st 5lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Aided by cheekpieces this year, winning three in a row here (2m-2m4f, heavy) in January/February; also suited by faster ground but managed only fifth behind Jack's Jury off this career-high mark over C&D (soft) last month.

10/1

5th

1

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ffos Las

El Gavilan

12st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Thriving 5yo who has won three times on heavy ground here (2m-2m4f) this year; drew nicely clear of the others with another in-form horse when prevailing by a neck over C&D last time and remains unexposed over this trip; must be considered.

5/2

1st

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:22 Ffos Las

El Gavilan

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Heavy-ground 2m wins here the last twice, and although the latter represented no further improvement on RPRs he was value for further than 2l having walked through the last; untried over this far and 7lb rise demands a career-best, but clearly in the heart to go close once more.

9/4

Form: 458488

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won novice hurdle at Hereford (extended 2m, good) in November but he's been generally disappointing in handicaps since and was always behind at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) last time; overall record is now 1-17 and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 10lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) in October and followed up in a chase here over the same trip later that month when finishing alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; needs to bounce back.

12/1

6th

6

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 3lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) where he finished alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; on a perfectly good mark if he can bounce back to form.

9/1

5th

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 5lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) later in October where he finished alone after being left in isolation three out; tailed off in a Hereford chase on latest start and absent 107 days since; back hurdling on a competitive mark but with more to prove on worse than good to soft.

6/1

Form: 53-P05

Last run: 112 days

W: 10st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Sole hurdle win was in 2019 and he's struggled over fences and hurdles in three runs after a long absence; mark is tumbling but he has plenty to prove after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:30 Taunton

Blackhillsofdakota

10st 5lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Alexandra Dunn

in touch with leaders, prominent after 5th, outpaced from 3 out, kept on run-in

25/1

7th

8

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:30 Taunton

Blackhillsofdakota

10st 5lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Alexandra Dunn

Sole hurdle win was in 2019 and he's struggled over fences and hurdles in three runs after a long absence; mark is tumbling but he has plenty to prove after another break.

25/1

5th

7

1st Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Blackhillsofdakota

11st 0lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Alexandra Dunn

Pulled up over fences in November, after a long absence, and struggled over C&D when back over hurdles two weeks ago; needs to prove some ability remains.

33/1

Non-runners

Valadon

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £41.60
Straight Forecast £34.90
Tricast £131.26
Trifecta £150.10

Selections

TOPSPEED:

El Gavilan

RP RATINGS:

Jubilee Gold

SPOTLIGHT:

Him Malaya

POSTDATA:

Man Of The Sea

Daily Mail:

American Land

The Times:

El Gavilan

The Guardian:

El Gavilan

D Express:

El Gavilan

The Sun:

El Gavilan

The Star:

Him Malaya

Telegraph:

Jubilee Gold

Daily Mirror:

Jubilee Gold

Daily Record:

Man Of The Sea