April 27 / 18.25 Taunton

18.25

Good

Invest Southwest Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5016.95
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
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Invest Southwest Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 6-0P31 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the seventh attempt over hurdles when justifying favouritism in a big-field handicap over C&D (good to soft) two weeks ago; up 10lb but he surged 9l clear under David Prichard last time and is open to more improvement; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

19:00 Hereford

Phoenix Risen

11st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Fine on all ground; in a good run of form since the blinkers went on four starts back and this might not be quite so demanding as the Exeter race he contested last time; in the mix.

7/1

5th

9

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:10 Exeter

Phoenix Risen

11st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Only blinkered this season and the aids are working well, registering a fourth hurdle win under a positive ride at Wincanton (2m, heavy); 5lb rise sees him on a career-high mark but he has to be considered; good to soft is fine.

5/1

1st

5

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Phoenix Risen

10st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Two good runs in blinkers this season, latterly when clear second of 13 at Wincanton (1m7f, soft; unraced on heavy) in December; nudged back up to his career-high mark since but still commands respect.

5/2

6/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: -44UU3

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Went the wrong way after last winter's 1m7f maiden win and chasing didn't really go to plan this season but he took a big step back in the right direction when third over hurdles at Wincanton (2m5f, good) last time; on same mark here and has claims if he can build on that back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 168y

19:35 Sligo

Great Ocean

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

Won over fences here on yard debut in October 2024 but was tailed off on return at Cartmel in June; lower hurdle mark to work with and may have needed the run so not ruled out.

6/1

9th

8

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

16:30 Cartmel

Great Ocean

10st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Returned from layoff with ready win in Sligo begninners' chase (2m5f, good) on stable debut in October but absent since and needs to prove he can cope with a handicap mark this high; effective on good and soft ground.

8/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: -3735B C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Well treated judged on his two wins (2m/2m3f) as a novice last season but he's yet to hit top gear this term; brought down early on at Chepstow two weeks ago but that was after a heavy defeat at Haydock and he needs a major revival back at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:50 Taunton

Kingofthewest

11st 10lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

raced in second, fell 3rd

5/2

2nd

4

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Lingfield

Kingofthewest

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

prominent, left in third 9th, stayed on run-in, went third towards finish, no match for winner

7/2

Form: 113-6P CD BF

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo; won in good style on stable/hurdle debut over C&D (good to soft) last spring but well held in next two runs before pulled up in a Chepstow handicap in February; with top yard and still unexposed but has some questions to answer; tongue-tie reapplied, having been used in his French days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

18:30 Newton Abbot

Inca De Lafayette

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Only his third run over fences when strolling home in a small field at Plumpton (2m4f, good); hit with a 7lb rise but his last win over hurdles was off only 3lb lower; good chance.

11/8

1st

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Inca De Lafayette

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Fine on all ground; well handicapped on his peak form over hurdles and has only raced twice as a chaser; no match for the winner at Exeter last time (2m1f) but that horse was favourite and unexposed; respected.

9/4

2nd

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 3

14:40 Exeter

Inca De Lafayette

10st 11lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Latest effort (chase debut) was better than his reappearance; may be about to reach boiling point and looks interesting in receipt of weight all round; gained last hurdles win off 3lb higher.

13/2

14/1

Form: 066366 BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Creditable third of 17 in a Doncaster handicap (2m, good) in January but he's not hit the same level in his two runs since and is now 0-14; others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(10)

20th May 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 197y

Class 5

17:50 Doncaster

Clay

9st 12lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Neil King

took keen hold, disputed lead, raced in second after 1f, shaken up when led under 3f out, ridden when headed 2f out, weakened from over 1f out

14/1

2nd

2

(4)

9th May 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

15:25 Lingfield (AW)

Clay

9st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Neil King

Maiden on Flat for Richard Hannon and over hurdles (modest form) for current yard; runner-up twice over C&D in early 2021 but has seemingly regressed overall; others preferred.

12/1

5th

9

27th Apr 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

18:25 Taunton

Clay

10st 7lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Creditable third of 17 in a Doncaster handicap (2m, good) in January but he's not hit the same level in his two runs since and is now 0-14; others are more persuasive.

14/1

Form: 245662 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
His last hurdle win was off 1lb higher at Huntingdon (2m) last April and he got back near his best when runner-up in the same race (under Elizabeth Gale) 17 days ago; that was a bold bid after a break and he's respected; both wins have come on good ground but last run was on good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(3)

6th Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Coolnaugh Haze

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

in touch with leaders, outpaced but went third inside final furlong, no match for first two

10/1

3rd

2

(3)

6th Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Coolnaugh Haze

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

in touch with leaders, outpaced but went third inside final furlong, no match for first two

10/1

7th

7

(3)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:25 Chelmsford (AW)

Coolnaugh Haze

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: P58411

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Took a while to get off the mark but he won a maiden hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in February and followed up in a handicap over same C&D (good to soft) last month; 4lb higher in this deeper race but he's open to more progress and is a key player in his hat-trick bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

16th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Universal Secret

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Helen Nelmes

In excellent form over fences since undergoing a second breathing operation, scoring at Wincanton (2m4f) in February before a clear second of seven over that C&D last month; up 2lb but that form is working out well so he's a big player.

5/2

2nd

6

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Universal Secret

10st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Helen Nelmes

Pulled up in his first two starts this season but he returned after another wind operation with a win over C&D (good to soft; tongue-tie added; Hatos second) in February; up 6lb but he remains feasibly treated and has claims if he can back up that last run.

100/30

1st

6

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Universal Secret

10st 6lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Helen Nelmes

Went close here (about 2m, good to soft) in December 2024 but he's 0-9 over fences and his two runs this term have been troubling; has his first start following wind surgery, with a tongue-tie joining the cheekpieces of latest start; needs a revival.

25/1

Form: -41217 D BF

Last run: 153 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won handicaps at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) and Wincanton (1m7f, good) in the autumn and had an excuse when upped to 2m3f in final run last year; returns from 153 days off but yard is in good form and he could resume his progress back at this trip; dangerous.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

17:15 Market Rasen

Cornicello

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

held up in last, detached throughout, pulled up before 3 out, never going well

14/1

4th

3

16th Jun 2023

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

19:20 Fontwell

Cornicello

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Can be considered on his two wins last autumn but hasn't found that form in a pair of starts this spring; last of four at Ffos Las 20 days ago and blinkers now fitted in an attempt to perk him up.

10/1

4th

3

27th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

19:25 Ffos Las

Cornicello

11st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

prominent, ridden and outpaced 3f out, weakened 2f out

9/2

Form: 611-P6 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Ended 2021 with 2m handicap wins on slow ground at Lingfield and Sandown but, after 14 months off, he's struggled in both runs this year; now only 2lb higher than for last win but he needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:25 Plumpton

Naturally High

11st 6lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Paddy Butler

held up in rear

16/1

6

14th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:25 Plumpton

Naturally High

11st 6lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Paddy Butler

held up in rear

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £34.60
Straight Forecast £35.77
Tricast £230.80
Trifecta £311.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Phoenix Risen

The Times:

Universal Secret

RP Ratings:

Coolnaugh Haze

Telegraph:

Cornicello

TOPSPEED:

Kingofthewest

POSTDATA:

Phoenix Risen

WEST COUNTRY:

Phoenix Risen

Daily Mail:

Phoenix Risen

D Express:

Phoenix Risen

Daily Mirror:

Phoenix Risen

Daily Record:

Phoenix Risen

The Guardian:

Universal Secret

The Sun:

Universal Secret

The Star:

Universal Secret