February 03 / 16.15 Taunton

16.15

Heavy

24 March Behind The Scenes Raceday Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5967.53
  • 2m 2f 40y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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24 March Behind The Scenes Raceday Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 555d-5

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won this race readily (soft ground) on chasing debut at year ago, only to be disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance; made low-key reappearance on good ground here in December but still features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:20 Leicester

Palawan Du Mazet

11st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Alan Jones

First past the post in the same novice handicap at Taunton (2m2f, soft/heavy) in two of his three chase attempts, last time comfortably making amends for being disqualified a year earlier (banned substance found in sample); may have more to offer over fences; shortlisted.

6/4

1st

7

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Palawan Du Mazet

10st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Alan Jones

Won this race readily (soft ground) on chasing debut at year ago, only to be disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance; made low-key reappearance on good ground here in December but still features prominently in calculations.

9/4

OUR TIP

7/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 9-4345

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Just 1-13 over hurdles but has arrested his decline and made the frame in three handicaps this season (2m-2m5f); copes well with heavy ground and will find this race much easier than useful Chepstow novice he contested on last week's chasing debut; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Storming Nelson

11st 2lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Needs to up his game after two below-par recent runs (2m/2m3f) but his second to a next-time-out winner at Taunton (2m2f, heavy) in early February was a good effort and this step up in trip is an interesting move.

9/1

5th

7

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Storming Nelson

11st 0lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Over two years since sole career win in a novice hurdle here; 0-3 over fences and easily the best of those runs was the second at Taunton (2m2f, heavy); ideally wants that slower ground.

8/1

3rd

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Ffos Las

Storming Nelson

11st 9lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Out the back with DJ Pete in a Chepstow novice on chasing debut, and better judged on his Taunton handicap second since (2m2f, heavy); Exeter hurdles winner likely to appreciate the return to a longer track.

9/4

7/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: P888-6 BF

Last run: 86 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 6yo; unplaced all five British starts, most recently when well-held sixth on seasonal/chase debut in November, but was given a wind op in December and may yet come good for Venetia Williams.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

16:20 Fontwell

Falco Des Pins

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French gelding who's got it together since undergoing wind surgery, backing up a Ludlow win (2m, soft) when easily seeing off three others at Leicester last week; every chance of the hat-trick upped another 6lb.

5/4

1st

1

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

16:30 Leicester

Falco Des Pins

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French recruit who gained a first success on just his third run over fences in 2m Ludlow handicap 16 days ago; up 6lb but he scored cosily there and looks the one to beat.

11/10

Form: 51F733

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Just 1-11 over fences but gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and should be fine on the slower ground here; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Jaitroplaclasse

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and perhaps not helped by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite next time; only 1-12 as a chaser but he's in the mix.

5/1

4th

1

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Jaitroplaclasse

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Just 1-11 over fences but gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and should be fine on the slower ground here; one to consider.

7/2

3rd

7

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

14:17 Ludlow

Jaitroplaclasse

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Made all in small-field Newton Abbot chase (2m, good to soft) in September and put a below-par run behind him when respectable third at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day but others appeal more all the same; moves back up in trip and sports first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

Form: 83-226 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Disappointing favourite when back over hurdles last month but came second in two soft-ground chases in November (2m/2m4f) and will be on the premises if quickly back on song in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:20 Leicester

Nedzor

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Henry Oliver

Still a maiden and this season has been a game of two halves, with his second-place finishes in November preceding a couple of poor efforts; doesn't look as if he's about to get off the mark.

11/2

4

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Nedzor

10st 13lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Henry Oliver

Disappointing favourite when back over hurdles last month but came second in two soft-ground chases in November (2m/2m4f) and will be on the premises if quickly back on song in first-time cheekpieces.

7/2

Form: 116-P7

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner (once on heavy ground) in early part of last year but yet to strike form after two starts this term; needs good boost from first-time cheekpieces on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Just Aidan

11st 3lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Mixed results (U15) since wearing cheekpieces and switched to chasing; disappointing favourite on good ground last time; rebound needed in the retained headgear.

13/2

5th

3

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Just Aidan

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Dual hurdle winner who made it second time lucky over fences when beating seven rivals in a Bangor handicap (2m2f, soft) last month; up 5lb but he turned things around with that comfortable success and should have more to offer in this sphere; key player.

7/4

1st

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Just Aidan

10st 12lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Two wins over hurdles; showed nothing in that discipline on his return from a break and unseated mid-race on chase debut three weeks ago; too risky.

14/1

Form: 334-87

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Tailed off here (2m, good to soft) on last month's chasing debut and now 0-8 overall; might have needed that outing (his first since July) but others in the line-up have more obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

14th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Holy Legend

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Alexandra Dunn

Just four starts over fences and, after finishing tailed off in the first and refusing in the second, he showed he might be getting the hang of things when sixth of ten at Exeter (2m3f, good; weakened) last month; needs to take another step forward but that's not out of the question.

20/1

6th

6

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

16:10 Exeter

Holy Legend

10st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Alexandra Dunn

Maiden hurdler who hasn't looked a natural over fences, refusing two runs back; opposable.

25/1

5th

5

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 12y

Class 5

16:40 Taunton

Holy Legend

10st 11lb

J: James Best

T: Alexandra Dunn

Maiden hurdler who has failed to take to chasing, refusing at the second fence in 2m2f handicap here last month; best left alone.

20/1

Form: 3P0P-0

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Showed nothing more than glimmers of promise during eight-race hurdling career (2m-3m) and is 3lb out of the weights for this chasing debut; difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

14:52 Ludlow

Joker Jack

10st 5lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Claire Hitch

Has no form claims and being 6lb out of the weights is no help; instantly opposed.

100/1

9th

11

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

19:30 Taunton

Joker Jack

10st 5lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Claire Hitch

Pulled up on two of his three starts this season, including on chase debut in February and when tried in this headgear combination back over hurdles last time; has undergone wind surgery since but still looks best watched.

50/1

11

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:25 Hereford

Joker Jack

10st 5lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Claire Hitch

Has shown only the odd sign of ability over hurdles and pulled up on chase debut last month; 5lb out of the handicap back hurdling; cheekpieces (tried once) join the tongue-tie of last three starts.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.70
Straight Forecast £17.05
Tricast £85.94
Trifecta £110.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Palawan Du Mazet

The Times:

Jaitroplaclasse

The Sun:

Nedzor

Telegraph:

Just Aidan

POSTDATA:

Storming Nelson

RP RATINGS:

Palawan Du Mazet

The Guardian:

Palawan Du Mazet

D Express:

Palawan Du Mazet

The Star:

Nedzor

Daily Mail:

Jaitroplaclasse

Daily Mirror:

Jaitroplaclasse

Daily Record:

Jaitroplaclasse