April 09 / 17.20 Taunton

17.20

Good

Mike’s Seventieth Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5967.53
  • 2m 7f 3y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Mike’s Seventieth Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £17.60
  • Place: £6.40

Form: P52UP4

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner who showed up well until tiring on his first start for three months when fourth of eight finishers at Hereford (2m5f, good) 15 days ago; first-time visor replaces regular cheekpieces; place claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Boys Of Wexford

11st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Returned to winning ways in the new visor at Taunton (2m7f, good) but whether he'll follow one good run with another is questionable and he's gone up 6lb.

9/2

1st

8

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Boys Of Wexford

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Dual chase winner who showed up well until tiring on his first start for three months when fourth of eight finishers at Hereford (2m5f, good) 15 days ago; first-time visor replaces regular cheekpieces; place claims.

10/1

4th

7

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Boys Of Wexford

10st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Dual chase winner; seemingly back in good nick when second at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) in November but ended 2025 with two non-completions and his record when fresh is not good; others preferred.

8/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 548-62 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Both wins when trained by Alan King; showed little on return from 404-day layoff at Leicester in January for new yard but much better when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last month; runs off the same mark and holds place claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:27 Ludlow

Hall Lane

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Only 1-13 over fences but is threatening to double his tally, having stayed on for second in the last two of three starts for new yard, latest at Taunton (2m7f, good); possibilities off same mark.

2/1

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Hall Lane

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Both wins when trained by Alan King; showed little on return from 404-day layoff at Leicester in January for new yard but much better when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last month; runs off the same mark and holds place claims at least.

3/1

Form: 41745P CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

School For Scandal

10st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tickle

Two more chase wins in 2025, the latest at Windsor (3m, good to soft; suited by good) in November; often battled with unsuitable ground over the winter but 4lb lower than at Windsor so has a weights chance.

10/1

3rd

7

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

School For Scandal

10st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground.

12/1

5

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

School For Scandal

10st 10lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

2lb below his Windsor success in November but he's not matched that level since, latest when well held at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month; needs the return to better ground to spark a revival.

25/1

Form: -26663 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Second on her chase debut at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) in October but has failed to back up that run since; no improvement following wind surgery last time and has been dropped another 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Gata Ban

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

Hasn't kicked on from a second on chase debut but did some good late work behind Boys Of Wexford at Taunton the last time; that was over 2m7f and now goes further.

11/2

Form: PP2234

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Just the one win in 22 starts but three decent runs when placed prior to a below par effort when tailed off at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; his poor win record does not inspire.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Illogical Logic

11st 2lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Landed his sole win off this mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) last June but has been tailed off on his last two starts; would be considered if operating at his best but needs to sharpen up.

7/1

6th

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Illogical Logic

11st 2lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Just the one win in 22 starts but three decent runs when placed prior to a below par effort when tailed off at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; his poor win record does not inspire.

6/1

4th

4

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Illogical Logic

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Back in form since pulling up twice earlier in the season, reaching the frame on his last three starts, most recently at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) in January when third of seven, beaten just under 6l; place claims off an unchanged mark.

13/2

Form: 24132P D

Last run: 188 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark at Perth (3m, good) last August off 9lb lower mark when trained by Ella Pickard; two decent efforts when placed subsequently but was pulled up at Hexham in October when last seen; makes stable debut and worth a look in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Mcgregors Charge

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

A chase at Perth (3m, good) last August off 5lb lower was his only win from 17 starts; left Ella Pickard before pulled up here 13 days ago on debut for new stable, but it's notable that he started 13-8 favourite in that chase; now he's back hurdling for first time since 2022.

7/1

4

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Mcgregors Charge

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Got off the mark at Perth (3m, good) last August off 9lb lower mark when trained by Ella Pickard; two decent efforts when placed subsequently but was pulled up at Hexham in October when last seen; makes stable debut and worth a look in the betting.

5/1

6

3rd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:37 Hexham

Mcgregors Charge

11st 4lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Has record of 282324132 since switched to chasing and he ran into a major improver when a front-running second at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good to soft) two weeks ago; up 3lb but they were strung out behind him last time and he should give it another good shot back in trip.

13/2

Form: -31463

Last run: 231 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

21st Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

13:30 Doncaster

Cave Article

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

26,000euros 3yo; second foal; dam unraced half-sister to bumper and smart 2m4f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner Casey Jones; ran in two Irish maiden points last year, runner-up in October on second occasion; probably one for later on but market should guide on rules debut.

16/1

Non-runners

Fat Sam

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £66.50
Straight Forecast £91.91
Tricast £851.62
Trifecta £645.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Hall Lane

SPOTLIGHT:

Cave Article

Daily Mirror:

Mcgregors Charge

The Star:

School For Scandal

Telegraph:

Cave Article

D Express:

Cave Article

POSTDATA:

Hall Lane

The Times:

Hall Lane

The Guardian:

Hall Lane

Daily Mail:

Hall Lane

Daily Record:

Hall Lane

The Sun:

Mcgregors Charge