February 07 / 14.30 Taunton

14.30

Good To Soft

Cornish Rock Gin Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5016.95
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
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Cornish Rock Gin Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

33/1 (Won)

  • Win: £42.50
  • Place: £7.10

Form: 5616-0 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won a six-runner handicap at Wincanton (2m4f, good) last March and is now 2lb lower; however, he was down the field on his final run last season (2m5f, good) and tailed off on his reappearance at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in December; this 10yo needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

13:57 Chepstow

River Bray

11st 9lb

J: Miss Heidi Stevens

T: Victor Dartnall

prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off

12/1

1st

2

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Taunton

River Bray

11st 13lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Won a six-runner handicap at Wincanton (2m4f, good) last March and is now 2lb lower; however, he was down the field on his final run last season (2m5f, good) and tailed off on his reappearance at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in December; this 10yo needs to get back on track.

33/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: -33415 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Below par at Newbury (2m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but that run may have come too soon, ten days after she won over this C&D; her last three victories have come over C&D (good-soft) and she's respected for her in-form trainer now back at her favourite venue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

19:20 Stratford

Amelias Dance

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

Runner-up five times last season but not at best when well-held fourth at Taunton (2m, soft) in March; pulled up after a bad early mistake at Kempton last month.

5/1

5th

1

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

19:20 Stratford

Amelias Dance

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

led, pressed leader when headed 2nd, led last (usual 2 out), headed home turn, weakened final 110yds

5/1

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton

Amelias Dance

11st 12lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

midfield, bad mistake and almost fell 3rd, soon pulled up quickly

14/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 419-F4 D

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two wins last season (2m, good/good to soft) and running well when falling two out on reappearance at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) in November; disappointing at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) 15 days later but the subsequent break may have helped and she's not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Taunton

Cup Of Coffee

11st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Two wins last season (2m, good/good to soft) and running well when falling two out on reappearance at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) in November; disappointing at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) 15 days later but the subsequent break may have helped and she's not written off.

14/1

4th

5

30th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

13:45 Ludlow

Cup Of Coffee

10st 13lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Two wins last season and was still just in front of Mullenbeg when falling at Fakenham 15 days ago, on her return from a break; likely to prove very competitive if none the worse for that mishap.

3/1

3

15th Nov 2022

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

14:22 Fakenham

Cup Of Coffee

11st 10lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Samuel Drinkwater

led, pushed along 3 out, faced challenge when mistake and fell 2 out

9/1

11/1

Form: 214F25 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won at Stratford (2m, good) last September and short-headed at Huntingdon (2m, good) in November, before a pretty solid fifth of ten at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft); can give another good account but there's a suspicion he'll be vulnerable here against some progressive rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Sergeant

11st 8lb

J: Miss Anna Johnston

T: Anthony Charlton

Refused to race at Wincanton in October so not without risk; won at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good) last August and returned to form with 11l third under Anna Johnston at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) in December; the winner aside, that latest form is working out well and he could be thereabouts down 2lb.

16/1

10

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Sergeant

11st 8lb

J: Miss Anna Johnston

T: Anthony Charlton

Refused to race at Wincanton in October so not without risk; won at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good) last August and returned to form with 11l third under Anna Johnston at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) in December; the winner aside, that latest form is working out well and he could be thereabouts down 2lb.

16/1

Form: 0/83P

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Two-time Flat winner who, in the context of this lowly mark, was a fair third in a C&D novice (good) in December; however, he was pulled up on last month's handicap hurdle debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) and is hard to fancy on the back of that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(4)

5th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:55 Windsor

The Rain King

9st 9lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: Michael Wigham

Defied a higher mark here (1m) three years ago; has produced two poor results on AW for new yard since returning from long absence but could revive back at Windsor.

14/1

7th

1

(4)

5th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:55 Windsor

The Rain King

9st 9lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: Michael Wigham

Defied a higher mark here (1m) three years ago; has produced two poor results on AW for new yard since returning from long absence but could revive back at Windsor.

14/1

11th

2

(7)

27th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

The Rain King

9st 9lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Wigham

took keen hold, prominent, lost ground after 1f, soon dropped to midfield

40/1

Form: 1-2214 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Good second at Fakenham (2m, good) in October and awarded the race at Lingfield (2m, soft) next time; fair fourth of eight at Plumpton (2m, soft) last time in a race that has worked out well and he might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

13:43 Musselburgh

Saligo Bay

10st 7lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won three in a row (1m7f/2m, good-soft) prior to heavy defeat at Windsor a fortnight ago; however, the ground was soft, heavy in places last time which may have been too demanding, and he's not written off today.

16/1

11th

12

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Saligo Bay

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Sam England

Won on the Flat in September and also successful on four of his five hurdle starts since, including on soft ground and in good style at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) last time; he's 7lb higher than last time and in a hotter race today, but he's clearly thriving and could go well once more.

11/1

10

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:30 Wetherby

Saligo Bay

10st 6lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Beaten favourite when third to Max Of Stars over C&D 17 days ago but still ran creditably and that followed Flat and hurdles wins in September; tough, reliable and unlikely to be far away.

11/4

Form: /P0-77 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won three times in autumn 2020 and is well handicapped on that form, but she's not the same force nowadays and has finished soundly beaten in seventh the last twice; needs to raise her game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:10 Exeter

Perfect Myth

11st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Stuart Kittow

held up in last, jumped left 4th, jumped left 5th, pushed along after 3 out, went second last, soon ridden, kept on but always held

9/2

7th

1

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Taunton

Perfect Myth

12st 0lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Stuart Kittow

Won three times in autumn 2020 and is well handicapped on that form, but she's not the same force nowadays and has finished soundly beaten in seventh the last twice; needs to raise her game.

50/1

7th

1

31st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

12:10 Newbury

Perfect Myth

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Stuart Kittow

Useful in the autumn of 2020 for Neil King, winning three mares' races, but winless on the Flat this year and well held on her return to hurdling at Cheltenham (100-1) three weeks ago; on the back burner for now.

20/1

Form: 6-6341 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Built upon his previous efforts (on good and good to soft) when winning in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on last Monday's handicap debut at Hereford (2m, soft); he had a lot more in hand than the winning margin of a length and a half suggests and looks well treated under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Taunton

Half Dozen

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Built upon his previous efforts (on good and good to soft) when winning in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on last Monday's handicap debut at Hereford (2m, soft); he had a lot more in hand than the winning margin of a length and a half suggests and looks well treated under a 7lb penalty.

4/5

1st

6

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:25 Hereford

Half Dozen

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Has shown promise over hurdles, notably when third at Newbury in November (form perhaps not as strong as looked likely at the time); moves into handicaps with a tongue-tie now enlisted; capable of better.

9/2

4th

6

27th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

12:00 Chepstow

Half Dozen

11st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Shaped with clear promise on first two hurdling starts, more recently when third behind two expensive recruits at Newbury (2m, good) last month; likely contender.

11/4

Form: 1-1261 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Headstrong sort who was tailed off on his hurdle debut in December when back from a break but left that run miles behind to win at Doncaster (2m3f, good) ten days ago; this unexposed 7yo is open to further improvement now in a hood, which could help him settle better; likely player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

11th May 2023

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

16:00 Huntingdon

Give Me A Cuddle

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Yet to make any further progress since winning at Doncaster (2m3f, good) in January but gave very good account before fading into fifth at Kempton (2m5f, good; first-time tongue-tie) ten days ago and has each-way claims at least if in similar form here.

10/1

5th

9

1st May 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Kempton

Give Me A Cuddle

11st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

disputed lead, prominent after 2nd

33/1

12th

3

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:50 Kelso

Give Me A Cuddle

11st 9lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

took keen hold, prominent

16/1

Form: 316538 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won a hunter chase last May and he returned from a break with a fair third of four over hurdles at Leicester in November; however, he's since been down the field at Wincanton and his claims aren't overly compelling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

3rd Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

18:15 Stratford

Across The Line

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Syd Hosie

Back to form with a couple of seconds and he was clear at one point under a positive ride last time at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good; same mark); interesting to see if similar tactics are employed here as he could be tough to reel in.

5/2

2nd

4

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:45 Newton Abbot

Across The Line

11st 10lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Syd Hosie

led, soon clear

7/1

2nd

7

1st May 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:22 Warwick

Across The Line

11st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Syd Hosie

raced in second, ridden before 2 out, led approaching last, headed run-in, soon outpaced

10/1

Form: 410057 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won a novice hurdle at Stratford (2m, good) last May but he's struggled to get competitive in his four handicaps since; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

29th Aug 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Worcester

Toronto

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

Formerly useful on the Flat and a dual hurdle winner in spring 2022; signed off for Brian Barr below form but was only 3-1 on debut for this yard at Bangor and after losing ground quickly it was reported that he bled; likely contender should the wheels stay on.

10/1

0

1

4th Aug 2023

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

17:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Toronto

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

Useful on the Flat in his prime, and a dual hurdle winner in spring 2022; ended last year with some disappointing hurdle runs for Brian Barr but makes stable debut from a very dangerous mark; can't be ignored.

7/2

5

15th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Toronto

11st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Brian Barr

Keen-going sort; two novice wins last spring but little impact in four handicaps since; continues to slide down the weights and may revive on good ground at some stage.

25/1

Non-runners

Toronto

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £274.70
Straight Forecast £206.61
Tricast £4610.98
Trifecta £3844.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Half Dozen

POSTDATA:

Amelia's Dance

Daily Mirror:

Sergeant

TOPSPEED:

River Bray

RP Ratings:

Half Dozen

WEST COUNTRY:

Half Dozen

The Times:

Half Dozen

Telegraph:

Half Dozen

The Guardian:

Half Dozen

D Express:

Half Dozen

The Sun:

Half Dozen

The Star:

Half Dozen

Daily Record:

Half Dozen

Daily Mail:

Amelia's Dance