April 09 / 15.07 Taunton

15.07

Good

C&D South West Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 7f 198y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
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C&D South West Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.60
  • Place: £3.00

Form: 4443-9

Last run: 110 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 7yo; looked rusty after eight months off when last of nine in 3m Ascot handicap hurdle in December; needs to take a major step forward if he's to gain a first victory in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:41 Worcester

Gasmani

12st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: David Dennis

Point/bumper winner who showed improvement to get off the mark over hurdles at Taunton (3m, good) last month on his sixth attempt; creditable second over the same C&D subsequently and holds place claims at least while in this mood.

7/1

2nd

1

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Gasmani

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David Dennis

Came good as a hurdler (sixth attempt) when asserting by 5l in a five-runner and four-finisher novice handicap over C&D (good) 13 days ago, having breezed into the lead before two out under Charlie Maggs; hot favourite Noble Blue unseated early in that race; up 6lb but probably has a good chance.

5/2

12/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 4-214P D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Gained her breakthrough success at Wincanton (3m) in December but she's been well below par both runs since, pulled up at Huntingdon (25f) 22 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:07 Taunton

Happy Returns

10st 6lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Gained her breakthrough success at Wincanton (3m) in December but she's been well below par both runs since, pulled up at Huntingdon (25f) 22 days ago.

12/1

6

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Happy Returns

11st 1lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Off the mark at the 13th attempt with an easy win at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) in December; way below form at Fontwell (3m2f, soft) next time and needs to resume her improvement.

8/1

4th

7

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Happy Returns

10st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

held up in rear, headway before 4 out, raced in fourth when outpaced on turn after 3 out, no impression from 2 out

13/2

Form: 678592

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Brought along steadily before taking a big step forward on his handicap debut when a clear second of seven at Sedgefield (2m4f) last month; up 5lb but remains low mileage and has his first go over this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

14th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Saint Polo

12st 0lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

Went close on handicap debut over hurdles at Sedgefield (2m4f) in March before solid third at Taunton (3m, also good) one month later; drops sharply back in trip with cheekpieces enlisted and he remains unexposed on this introduction to fences.

11/4

3rd

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:07 Taunton

Saint Polo

11st 11lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

Brought along steadily before taking a big step forward on his handicap debut when a clear second of seven at Sedgefield (2m4f) last month; up 5lb but remains low mileage and has his first go over this trip.

7/4

2nd

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

14:18 Sedgefield

Saint Polo

11st 12lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

Did not get competitive in first five hurdle races (1m7f-2m; one run attracted stewards' attention) but has now been given a handicap mark, and is open to improvement over this new trip; watch the betting.

10/1

Form: 053P6

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
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.
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: /09-22 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Remains winless under rules but he was a multiple points winner after leaving Paul Nolan in Ireland and has started well for his new yard, a strong-travelling second of 11 in 2m6f handicap hurdle at Exeter 23 days ago; can go one better here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:41 Worcester

Noble Blue

11st 13lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Kayley Woollacott

A prolific winner in points, he got off the mark under rules at Taunton (3m, good) last month; 5lb higher but looks the type that can go in again.

4/1

1st

5

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Noble Blue

11st 8lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Kayley Woollacott

0-14 under rules but 6-9 in points; second in two handicap hurdles over about 2m6f at Exeter this year, which saw him start 11-10 favourite for five-runner race over C&D (good) 13 days ago but he clipped heels and unseated in the early stages; that was the race won by Gasmani; should give him a lot more to think about this time, barring mishaps.

7/4

1

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:07 Taunton

Noble Blue

12st 0lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Kayley Woollacott

Remains winless under rules but he was a multiple points winner after leaving Paul Nolan in Ireland and has started well for his new yard, a strong-travelling second of 11 in 2m6f handicap hurdle at Exeter 23 days ago; can go one better here.

6/5

Non-runners

Jessmae

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £44.20
Straight Forecast £47.62
Trifecta £123.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Noble Blue

The Star:

Saint Polo

POSTDATA:

Marhaba Million

Daily Record:

Saint Polo

RP RATINGS:

Noble Blue

The Times:

Noble Blue

Telegraph:

Noble Blue

The Guardian:

Noble Blue

Daily Mail:

Noble Blue

D Express:

Noble Blue

Daily Mirror:

Noble Blue

The Sun:

Noble Blue