December 08 / 14.08 Taunton

14.08

Good

Dave Criddle Travel Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7624.4
  • 2m 2f 40y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
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Dave Criddle Travel Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 2257-1 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Three hurdle wins but his first over fences at the ninth attempt (debut for this yard) when lucky to collect over C&D four weeks ago (good) with the clear leader capsizing late on; kept on the same mark but this is a better race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Midnight Midge

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

prominent, not fluent 7th, lost ground after 2nd

8/1

1

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Midnight Midge

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

prominent, not fluent 7th, lost ground after 2nd

8/1

5th

2

11th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 4

15:18 Taunton

Midnight Midge

12st 1lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Three-time chase winner on good ground, twice over 2m2f here; on a tempting mark now but has lost his way a bit this season and conditions are likely to remain softer than he prefers today.

14/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 211113 BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Has soon left behind his hurdle form since going over fences, winning four handicaps (2m3f-2m6) on the bounce; made a mistake at just the wrong time when a 15l third over 2m7f here a fortnight ago; could still have another personal best in him, though this shorter trip might not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

13:20 Fontwell

Huelgoat

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

A five-time chase winner, he has adapted well since returning to hurdles in cheekpieces, making all at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in June and Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month (fell when holding a clear advantage in between); has a big penalty but will be difficult to keep tabs on.

9/4

1st

1

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

15:55 Stratford

Huelgoat

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

made all, kept on well, unchallenged

6/4

1

25th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Huelgoat

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Five-time chase winner who faced a simple task when opening his account in this discipline over C&D (good; first-time cheekpieces) this month; has more on his plate under a penalty in this deeper race but he's respected nonetheless.

5/4

Form: 125-2P D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Triple 2m-2m1f winner over hurdles and she wasn't far off her best form when going close in her first chase at Worcester (2m4f), albeit a non-handicap confined to her own sex; nothing wrong with her mark and she wasn't the only one who didn't give her true running on heavy ground at Bangor last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

18:28 Stratford

Voice Of Calm

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Sole success from nine chase starts came in a match but there was nothing wrong with her effort when going down narrowly in a 2m4f chase at Ludlow three weeks ago (good) and that was a useful race for the grade; respected.

100/30

3rd

3

12th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:53 Ludlow

Voice Of Calm

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Sole success from eight chase starts came in a match; tailed off at Cheltenham last month (2m, good) and was behind Royale Margaux; this is probably a better trip for her and for that reason she's not ruled out.

13/2

3rd

3

12th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:53 Ludlow

Voice Of Calm

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Sole success from eight chase starts came in a match; tailed off at Cheltenham last month (2m, good) and was behind Royale Margaux; this is probably a better trip for her and for that reason she's not ruled out.

13/2

Form: 332P-P CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Mostly consistent over fences last season and he's only 4lb higher than when winning this race; has pulled up the last twice, though his reappearance was over hurdles and the first-time cheekpieces could give him a lift.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Uttoxeter

Quoi De Neuf

11st 13lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Fakenham scorer off 8lb higher just over a year ago (2m5f, good) but with one exception miles below that level since; appreciable rain would diminish his appeal yet further.

16/1

4th

2

24th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

19:30 Hereford

Quoi De Neuf

11st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Inconsistent and generally regressive 10yo; has claims if judged on his second at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) in November but two lesser efforts followed that; returns from 108-day break today.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: -1112P

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Excellent strike-rate of 8-21 over fences but the fun stopped when a remote second at Uttoxeter and he then pulled up at Stratford; now on a retrieval mission and others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Kauto The King

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten chase wins since last seen over hurdles in 2020, the latest when digging deep at regular haunt Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in August; below-form fourth of five at Wincanton last time but still looks the main threat to Tuxedo Junction.

15/8

3rd

1

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Kauto The King

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten chase wins since last seen over hurdles in 2020, the latest when digging deep at regular haunt Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in August; below-form fourth of five at Wincanton last time but still looks the main threat to Tuxedo Junction.

15/8

4th

6

27th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 2

14:42 Wincanton

Kauto The King

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joe Tizzard

held up in rear, not fluent 1st, in touch with leaders 7th

5/1

Form: P26-13 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won twice hurdles and even better form when winning a four-runner handicap at Fontwell (2m2f, good) on his switch to chasing in October; coped well with the 5lb rise when close up at Wetherby (1m7f) and should have more to offer; jumps well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Zacony Rebel

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won from well out of the weights at Ludlow and off only 3lb higher he followed up at the expense of three rivals (3m, good), taking his record there to 3-5; has another 6lb rise to contend with but has won here and has to be taken seriously.

13/2

1st

5

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:27 Ludlow

Zacony Rebel

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Veteran who bounced back with 33-1 success from well out of the weights over C&D (good) most recently, taking Ludlow record to 2-4; just no certainty to follow up, having been inconsistent for a while.

7/2

1st

8

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:30 Ludlow

Zacony Rebel

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won a five-runner handicap at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) in December but this veteran has struggled in five subsequent runs; has lots to prove and he's a long way out of the weights.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.20
Straight Forecast £7.92
Trifecta £35.50

Selections

RP Ratings:

Midnight Midge

POSTDATA:

Huelgoat

SPOTLIGHT:

Zacony Rebel

The Times:

Voice Of Calm

TOPSPEED:

Quoi De Neuf

Telegraph:

Huelgoat

D Express:

Huelgoat

The Star:

Huelgoat

The Guardian:

Zacony Rebel

The Sun:

Zacony Rebel

WEST COUNTRY:

Midnight Midge

Daily Mail:

Midnight Midge

Daily Mirror:

Midnight Midge

Daily Record:

Midnight Midge