March 02 / 16.00 Taunton

16.00

Good

Richard Williams Memorial Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6495.63
  • 2m 7f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Richard Williams Memorial Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: -12432 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Won twice last spring (2m/2m5f, soft/good) and has run well to be placed the last twice (2m3f/2m2f, heavy/good), here most recently; stamina is the big question today but he was runner-up in a 3m point at the start of his career and he's a contender if seeing out the trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Exeter

Imperial Joe

11st 10lb

J: Mr Jake Bament

T: Tim Dennis

in touch with leaders

10/1

1st

4

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Exeter

Imperial Joe

11st 10lb

J: Mr Jake Bament

T: Tim Dennis

in touch with leaders

10/1

3rd

3

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

15:10 Taunton

Imperial Joe

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tim Dennis

All three chase wins have been over further, the last two here at 2m7f; below his best when last seen in June.

20/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 474-P1 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Capitalised on a reduced mark when winning on his stable debut at Ffos Las (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; back up 5lb he remains well treated on his old form (including a good-ground win) and has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

14

25th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

15:35 Cheltenham

Wick Green

11st 4lb

J: Mr Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Close third in this 12 months ago and similar form again over C&D the following month; on a steady decline subsequently and latest third in a small field at Fontwell was unconvincing; cheekpieces replaced by a visor.

25/1

3rd

1

4th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:00 Fontwell

Wick Green

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Five-time chase winner; in very good form when placed in two amateur riders' races at Cheltenham (3m1f, good/soft) last autumn but has lost his way this year and arrives here with quite a bit to prove.

8/1

7th

2

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Wick Green

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

Five-time chase winner but now with questions to answer from a wellbeing perspective; never travelled when well behind Olivers Travels here last month.

12/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 15-718 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Has an inconsistent profile and better could have been expected at Chepstow four weeks ago, but he's won two of his last five starts including at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in December in his second chase; capable of having a say if on a going day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Hipop Des Ongrais

11st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Dual good-ground scorer over today's sort of trip in autumn 2023, but in trouble too soon on his sole start since to be certain he derived sufficient benefit from it; returns to his last winning mark.

33/1

1st

2

29th Nov 2023

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:10 Hereford

Hipop Des Ongrais

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Successful in similar event at Fontwell (3m2f, good; off 7lb lower) on seasonal debut, adding to his wins at about 2m4f; still unexposed at this sort of distance and looks one for the shortlist.

7/2

Form: -43155 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in fifth at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) and Ffos Las (3m, soft) on his last two starts and has something to prove, but before those he won over this C&D (good) and is not written off now back here and returned to good ground; wears a first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Airtothethrone

12st 7lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Billy Aprahamian

With new yard for last two outings and contributed to their recent good form with a C&D win (good to soft) from Another Lord ten days ago, with his usual tongue-tie removed; has 7lb penalty and a 7lb claimer is recruited; probably as good as ever but a bit more may be needed from him.

9/2

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Airtothethrone

12st 7lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Billy Aprahamian

With new yard for last two outings and contributed to their recent good form with a C&D win (good to soft) from Another Lord ten days ago, with his usual tongue-tie removed; has 7lb penalty and a 7lb claimer is recruited; probably as good as ever but a bit more may be needed from him.

9/2

1st

2

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Airtothethrone

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Rather inconsistent for Tim Vaughan since Taunton win in 2022 and made low-key stable debut last month, but has possibilities in this lower grade if that recent outing brought him on.

8/1

Form: 12-626

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
He's not bred to be a staying chaser and he was soundly beaten at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) last time, but his staying-on second of five here (2m2f, good) in November suggests he's not a forlorn hope now up in trip and back on good ground; wears a first-time visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:00 Taunton

Point Him Out

11st 13lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

He's not bred to be a staying chaser and he was soundly beaten at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) last time, but his staying-on second of five here (2m2f, good) in November suggests he's not a forlorn hope now up in trip and back on good ground; wears a first-time visor.

14/1

6th

4

28th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:07 Uttoxeter

Point Him Out

11st 9lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Still unexposed over fences but was only third best on merit when keeping on to take modest second at Wincanton (2m2f, good) in November and will need a better performance here.

14/1

2nd

3

10th Nov 2022

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 4

14:25 Taunton

Point Him Out

11st 9lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Ex-American Flat winner (8.5f, firm); enjoyed the good ground when winning a Stratford novice hurdle and good to soft conditions perhaps too slow for him when an 11l sixth on his switch to fences at Kelso (2m1f handicap); this quicker track and drier ground can trigger improvement on that form.

13/2

Form: -42353

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Despite a bad blunder at the first fence he was a promising third on last month's chase debut at Fakenham (2m5f, good) and this lightly raced 3m point runner-up could have more to offer now back up in trip in first-time blinkers; the tongue-tie adopted last time is left off today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Camulus

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won his final two starts last season and he made it 3-8 over fences when completing a hat-trick over 3m1f at Wincanton (the vet reported he was treated for post-race ataxia) on his comeback in February; up another 4lb but he seems versatile ground-wise and is open to more progress as a staying chaser; key player.

5/2

1st

4

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:00 Wincanton

Camulus

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Made his breakthrough in a chase handicap at Leicester (2m6f, soft) last January and he completed a double at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) the following month; has been absent since then but he still looks feasibly treated and should have more to offer in this sphere; needs a close look on comeback.

7/2

Form: F74-4P D

Last run: 51 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
His mark continues to fall and his reappearance at Bangor in November was fairly encouraging, but pulled up at Exeter since and back to having something to prove; blinkers return (no positive impact when worn in France).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:00 Taunton

Eclair Mag

12st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

His mark continues to fall and his reappearance at Bangor in November was fairly encouraging, but pulled up at Exeter since and back to having something to prove; blinkers return (no positive impact when worn in France).

16/1

5

10th Jan 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

15:15 Exeter

Eclair Mag

11st 3lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Richard J Bandey

Never really got going last season but he's become well handicapped and seemed to need the run when tried in this new headgear combination at Bangor; successful under these conditions in the past and could feature.

10/1

4th

6

26th Nov 2022

Heavy

3m 0f 5y

Class 3

13:28 Bangor-on-Dee

Eclair Mag

11st 6lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Richard J Bandey

Will be suited by today's trip-and-ground combination and has become well handicapped but never really got going last season (five runs) and returns from 282-day abreak with fair bit to prove; cheekpieces refitted.

10/1

Form: 321432

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won a three-runner handicap at Fakenham (3m, good) in October and has continued in fair form, finishing a 5l second at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) last time; could be in the mix here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Dans Chosen

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won three chases last year from 2m4f to 2m5f when the ground was no slower than good to soft; latest return to chasing at Ffos Las was underwhelming, even allowing for the trip of 2m3f.

7/1

7th

1

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Dans Chosen

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won three chases over slightly longer trips last year when the ground was no slower than good to soft; current mark won't be easy but this race is a better fit than the novice hurdle he contested last time.

11/2

5th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

16:42 Taunton

Dans Chosen

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Better known as a chaser these days, with three of his four wins in that discipline gained last year; returns to hurdling over a trip short of his best and looks vulnerable.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.20
Straight Forecast £20.78
Tricast £72.58
Trifecta £93.10

Selections

RP Ratings:

Wick Green

SPOTLIGHT:

Camulus

TOPSPEED:

Hipop Des Ongrais

POSTDATA:

Dan's Chosen

Daily Mail:

Point Him Out

The Times:

Hipop Des Ongrais

Telegraph:

Camulus

D Express:

Camulus

Daily Mirror:

Camulus

WEST COUNTRY:

Dan's Chosen

The Guardian:

Wick Green

The Sun:

Wick Green

The Star:

Wick Green

Daily Record:

Wick Green