February 26 / 14.16 Taunton

14.16

Soft

St Austell Brewery Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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St Austell Brewery Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.90
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 088-7

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at massive prices in his first three hurdles races (2m-2m3f); contrastingly 6-1 for handicap debut at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) four weeks ago, after nine months off, and he did finish closer, albeit beaten 28l; dropped 1lb; work to do.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Gorcombe And Wise

10st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Tailed off at massive prices in his first three hurdles races (2m-2m3f); contrastingly 6-1 for handicap debut at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) four weeks ago, after nine months off, and he did finish closer, albeit beaten 28l; dropped 1lb; work to do.

7/1

7th

13

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

15:03 Wincanton

Gorcombe And Wise

10st 4lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Half-brother to two jumps winners but tailed off at massive prices in three hurdles runs (2m-2m3f) last season; now switches to a handicap but he needs plenty of improvement after 285 days off.

16/1

8th

2

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

13:59 Newton Abbot

Gorcombe And Wise

11st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

in rear

100/1

5/6

  • Place: £1.10

Form: P-8011 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Cheekpieces went on when he won his handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) and followed up off the same mark over C&D (heavy; by 8l from Talap) 11 days later, both under Fern O'Brien; 9lb higher this time but surely has a big shout in what looks a weak race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Cooler Than Me

10st 2lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three sound runs since cheekpieces went on in February, winning at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) and Taunton (2m3f, heavy) and finishing second at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft); interesting despite stepping up both in grade and in trip.

7/2

2nd

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Cooler Than Me

11st 9lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Cheekpieces went on when he won his handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) and followed up off the same mark over C&D (heavy; by 8l from Talap) 11 days later, both under Fern O'Brien; 9lb higher this time but surely has a big shout in what looks a weak race.

5/6

1st

7

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Taunton

Cooler Than Me

10st 11lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Rallied after being headed to lead again towards the finish and make a successful handicap debut at Market Rasen (extended 2m4f, good to soft) in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 11 days ago; escapes a penalty and is 7lb well-in compared to his future mark.

11/8

9/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 68/637

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden who was third in a C&D handicap (good to firm) in November on second start for the yard; soundly defeated on heavy ground at Ffos Las (2m) seven weeks ago on his only start since but he did have some form in the mud in Ireland; mixed messages.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

28th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Man Oh Man

10st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

In this headgear combination for his last three races and went close in the penultimate one at Exeter (2m7f, good); consistency is an issue but has a big run in him.

10/1

5th

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:12 Fontwell

Man Oh Man

11st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Inconsistent maiden but only his second run in this headgear combination when going close at Exeter (2m7f, good); with competitive form over this shorter trip, he's one of the better options.

7/2

2nd

4

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Man Oh Man

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: D Summersby

0-11 (placed twice at Taunton over 2m3f); inconsistent but better efforts would give him an each-way chance from this mark, if seeing out this longer trip.

12/1

Form: 565-6

Last run: 281 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
The odd whiff of ability in light career; left the Newland/Insole stable for 1,000gns last July and finished third in a maiden point in November on his only start since; insubstantial claims on handicap debut but his stable won a handicap last Sunday with its first hurdles runner of the season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Taunton

Pillar The Poet

11st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: I Chanin

Finished a remote fourth over 2m3f here in February before taking a backward step when tailed off at Exeter (extended 2m5f, good) two weeks ago when tried in a hood (retained), both times ridden by a 7lb claimer; still lightly raced but needs to step up considerably.

25/1

12th

2

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Pillar The Poet

11st 11lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: I Chanin

Left the Newland/Insole stable for 1,000gns last July, since when he's finished third in a point and a remote fourth on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f; 16-1).

15/2

4th

1

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Pillar The Poet

11st 12lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: I Chanin

The odd whiff of ability in light career; left the Newland/Insole stable for 1,000gns last July and finished third in a maiden point in November on his only start since; insubstantial claims on handicap debut but his stable won a handicap last Sunday with its first hurdles runner of the season.

12/1

Form: -37802

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
0-9 over hurdles but he has won in other disciplines and his 8l second of ten to Cooler Than Me over C&D (heavy; 100-1) last time was easily his most competitive show as a handicap hurdler; considered for a place.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Talap

10st 5lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gordon Edwards

0-9 over hurdles but he has won in other disciplines and his 8l second of ten to Cooler Than Me over C&D (heavy; 100-1) last time was easily his most competitive show as a handicap hurdler; considered for a place.

8/1

2nd

10

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Taunton

Talap

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gordon Edwards

0-8 over hurdles and beaten 14l or more in all four handicaps; hard to make a case for.

66/1

10th

13

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

13:52 Wincanton

Talap

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gordon Edwards

0-7 over hurdles; ran well for a long way when eighth from out of the weights over C&D (good to soft) on Boxing Day and is effectively 10lb lower today but his overall profile remains unconvincing.

25/1

Form: 053

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
His best was in the spring as 3yo on Flat and there's been little to cheer in 2025 or 2026, beaten 64l when third of eight in a C&D novice (heavy) last time; making handicap hurdle debut is the straw to clutch at.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

6th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:42 Fontwell

Marhaba Million

10st 9lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Useful Flat winner so he's been disappointing over hurdles, though has finished within 10l of the winner in his last two handicaps (2m4f/3m); a visor replaces cheekpieces and this aid did nothing for him on the Flat.

20/1

4th

4

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:07 Taunton

Marhaba Million

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Syd Hosie

A fair 1m4f Flat maiden for Owen Burrows; yet to show that level of form in this sphere but took a step forward when sixth of 12 in 2m4f Wincanton handicap 17 days ago; possibilities off a slipping mark.

8/1

6th

7

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

17:32 Wincanton

Marhaba Million

11st 4lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Became disappointing on the Flat last year and has not shown much since switched to hurdling; pulled up when 40-1 for last month's handicap hurdle debut at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft); difficult to enthuse over.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 447-F

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Won two points in spring 2024; modest form as a novice over hurdles that summer but failed to complete in two points last spring and it was the same story on handicap debut over C&D (125-1) two weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

All Night Parking

11st 9lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Carroll Gray

Won two points in spring 2024 but he's failed to complete in last four runs including in hurdle handicaps (125-1) in his last two starts; still lightly raced in this sphere but he has a lot to prove back up in trip; cheekpieces added.

100/1

3

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

All Night Parking

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Carroll Gray

Won two points in spring 2024; modest form as a novice over hurdles that summer but failed to complete in two points last spring and it was the same story on handicap debut over C&D (125-1) two weeks ago.

66/1

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Taunton

All Night Parking

11st 9lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Carroll Gray

Won a couple of points in spring 2024; didn't run too badly in three qualifying runs over hurdles for Carroll Gray in the summer of that year but off since failing to complete in two points last spring.

33/1

Form: P-3455

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ten-race maiden who has been chasing on last three starts, easily best of those on first occasion; now tries cheekpieces and a return to hurdling; worth a second look as he brings some handicap form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Diamond Days

11st 5lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten-race maiden who has been chasing on last three starts, easily best of those on first occasion; now tries cheekpieces and a return to hurdling; worth a second look as he brings some handicap form.

5/1

5th

7

19th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Lingfield

Diamond Days

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-8 over hurdles and fences; has run well on heavy ground (over 2m) but he didn't repeat a promising chase debut on this course (2m4f, good) in November when returned to a testing surface in December; still has to prove that 2m4f on soft is what he needs.

13/2

4th

3

18th Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield

Diamond Days

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made a good start in handicap hurdles when second here on heavy ground (2m) and shaped okay back from a break at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft), though was some 16l off the winner; unlikely that he's that well handicapped but chasing could bring him on.

3/1

Form: P0P-0P

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Showed rare hints of ability during eight-race hurdling career and pulled up here on chasing debut last month; 5lb out of the handicap this time; cheekpieces (tried once) join the tongue-tie of last three starts.
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

Form: 8455P/

Last run: 819 days

W: 10st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
100-1 or bigger when soundly beaten on all five starts; they were in 2023 (pulled up lame on handicap debut on final occasion) and he makes this return from 6lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Bowmans Dream

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Carroll Gray

100-1 or bigger when soundly beaten on all five starts; they were in 2023 (pulled up lame on handicap debut on final occasion) and he makes this return from 6lb out of the handicap.

100/1

0

11

30th Nov 2023

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

15:10 Taunton

Bowmans Dream

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Carroll Gray

towards rear

40/1

5th

3

12th Oct 2023

Good To Firm

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:15 Exeter

Bowmans Dream

11st 2lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Carroll Gray

in rear, not fluent 1st

50/1

Non-runners

Harksman

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.60
Straight Forecast £11.39
Tricast £34.73
Trifecta £75.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cooler Than Me

RP RATINGS:

Cooler Than Me

POSTDATA:

Cooler Than Me

The Times:

Cooler Than Me

Telegraph:

Cooler Than Me

The Guardian:

Cooler Than Me

Daily Mail:

Cooler Than Me

D Express:

Cooler Than Me

Daily Mirror:

Cooler Than Me

The Sun:

Cooler Than Me

The Star:

Cooler Than Me

Daily Record:

Cooler Than Me