February 20 / 16.10 Taunton

16.10

Heavy

Jumping For Fun Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £3277.72
  • 2m 7f 3y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Jumping For Fun Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 2P/31/

Last run: 1255 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won a chase in France and has been paying his way in points, winning four of his last five; beat a respected opponent in the latest last month and he's of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

7th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:10 Exeter

Macklin

12st 2lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Will Biddick

7-11 in points and his rules form is useful, having finished third at Cheltenham last May and winning as he liked here last month; looks the one to beat.

8/11

1st

8

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:13 Exeter

Macklin

12st 2lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Will Biddick

Multiple point winner who was very respectable third of five at Cheltenham (3m2f, good) last spring and was clear winner of good-quality open point at Badbury Rings (3m, good) when back in action last month; looks the one to beat here.

6/5

3rd

3

2nd May 2025

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 4

18:20 Cheltenham

Macklin

12st 4lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: Will Biddick

raced in last but in touch with leaders, went fourth after 10th, disputing second when hit 15th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on run-in

7/2

15/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 4P14-P D

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Had some problems since looking so promising earlier in career; won a 2m4f Kempton handicap last season before finishing a remote fourth in the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival; however, he ran a laboured race on hunter chase debut after 286 days away and that leaves him with questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

27th Oct 2024

Good

3m 2f 162y

Class 3

15:15 Wincanton

Lieutenant Rocco

10st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

pressed leader, led before 12th, pressed leader when headed 15th, not fluent 17th, outpaced before 3 out, weakened after 2 out

14/1

13

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Lieutenant Rocco

12st 0lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: Syd Hosie

Looked as though he might develop into a smart handicapper a few seasons back only for injury to intervene; won a Kempton handicap (2m4f, good; has won on heavy) 14 months ago but holding his form has been a challenge and he was well beaten by Espoir De Guye last time.

25/1

13

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Lieutenant Rocco

12st 0lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: Syd Hosie

Looked as though he might develop into a smart handicapper a few seasons back only for injury to intervene; won a Kempton handicap (2m4f, good; has won on heavy) 14 months ago but holding his form has been a challenge and he was well beaten by Espoir De Guye last time.

25/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: -01P57

Last run: 101 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner and also successful over fences in France (handled plenty of give underfoot); beaten by a talented ex-Paul Nicholls horse on debut for this yard in a recent 3m point.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:30 Exeter

My Reprieve

11st 13lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: T Ellis

Won Irish point and 2m5f French chase; useful yard debut in a mixed open in January and more than confirmed that promise with a staying-on third in a competitive 2m7f event at Taunton (soft) where she would have been closer but for losing some momentum three out; good chance.

9/4

3rd

5

20th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

My Reprieve

11st 13lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: T Ellis

Irish point winner and also successful over fences in France (handled plenty of give underfoot); beaten by a talented ex-Paul Nicholls horse on debut for this yard in a recent 3m point.

3/1

Form: 36P1/2

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Has always had lots of class and won a good 2m4f Newbury handicap in April 2022 before a lengthy spell on the sidelines; not as good as he was judged on his reappearance defeat on hunter chase debut at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) but still ran well; handled heavy ground earlier in his career.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

20th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Lalor

12st 6lb

J: Mr Charlie Sprake

T: Paul Nicholls

Has always had lots of class and won a good 2m4f Newbury handicap in April 2022 before a lengthy spell on the sidelines; not as good as he was judged on his reappearance defeat on hunter chase debut at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) but still ran well; handled heavy ground earlier in his career.

3/1

2nd

1

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

16:15 Wincanton

Lalor

12st 6lb

J: Mr Charlie Sprake

T: Paul Nicholls

Chase career has been decidedly up and down but he's always had lots of class and won a good 2m4f Newbury handicap when last seen in April 2022; pulled up in both his previous races at about 3m but those were strong handicaps; interesting to see what the market makes of him after so long out.

5/4

Form: F/878-

Last run: 298 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Two point wins; bang there when falling at the last in a hunter chase at Ludlow (3m, soft) in January 2022 on rules debut, after which he was no better than midfield in three hurdles for Kerry Lee; off since last April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:13 Exeter

Havent Time

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Miss S McQueen

No threat to easy winner when second at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month but that was still a pretty good effort and he'll probably be better suited by the less testing ground here; a possible.

14/1

2nd

2

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:00 Taunton

Havent Time

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Miss S McQueen

Won hunter chase at Southwell (3m, soft) in March 2024 and runner-up in this race last February (good to soft); this 12yo was no match for Golden Son when fourth at Warwick (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; could improve for that reappearance outing but others still make greater appeal.

33/1

Form: 212-3P D

Last run: 263 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Has won a hunter chase and was winning her sixth point in December; heavy ground has looked an issue in the past and it was under those conditions when she was beaten at odds-on in her latest point; had wind surgery since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

20th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Singapore Saga

11st 7lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: J Heard

Has won a hunter chase and was winning her sixth point in December; heavy ground has looked an issue in the past and it was under those conditions when she was beaten at odds-on in her latest point; had wind surgery since.

20/1

11

2nd Jun 2023

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 2

19:05 Stratford

Singapore Saga

11st 7lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: J Heard

midfield, jumped left from 7th, mistake 9th, towards rear 10th

16/1

3rd

2

5th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 4

19:10 Cheltenham

Singapore Saga

11st 11lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: J Heard

No match for Highway Jewel when they met in a point just over a year ago; only defeats this year have come at the hands of two very able hunter chasers (Envious Editor/Shantou Flyer) and she looks the main threat to the favourite.

7/2

Form: 1-P D

Last run: 263 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Beaten by Singapore Saga in a point 12 months ago; has won over regulation fences but he's down the pecking order here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

20th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Say About It

12st 0lb

J: Mr Callum Pritchard

T: R C Smith

Beaten by Singapore Saga in a point 12 months ago; has won over regulation fences but he's down the pecking order here.

40/1

7

2nd Jun 2023

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

18:05 Stratford

Say About It

11st 10lb

J: Mrs Jo Supple

T: R C Smith

Won what turned out to be an uncompetitive edition of C&D novices' hunter chase on this card a year ago; has made the frame in all four completed points this year (refused to race on other occasion) but needs others to disappoint tonight.

25/1

Form: 2/P4/P

Last run: 279 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Has won his share of points but was beaten when falling in the latest; 0-17 over regulation fences and others are much preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

20th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Broadclyst

11st 12lb

J: Miss Pippa Glanville

T: Mrs L Glanville

Has won his share of points but was beaten when falling in the latest; 0-17 over regulation fences and others are much preferred.

66/1

3

17th May 2023

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:55 Newton Abbot

Broadclyst

12st 0lb

J: Miss Pippa Glanville

T: Mrs L Glanville

midfield, shaken up and lost ground after 8th, not fluent and reminder 13th, soon pushed along

16/1

6

5th May 2023

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:45 Cheltenham

Broadclyst

11st 12lb

J: Miss Pippa Glanville

T: Mrs L Glanville

Form: 2P2-66

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Three times a runner-up in hunter chases last year and ran to a respectable level; can turn a blind eye to recent defeats over hurdles; regularly wears a hood and cheekpieces now added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Drop Flight

12st 1lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

Ran well in only one of six hurdling starts for Dan Skelton last season and, having rejoined Sam Loxton, was pulled up in a hunter chase in February; last of three finishers in 4m point last month; revival needed.

25/1

4

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Drop Flight

12st 1lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

Ran well in only one of six hurdling starts for Dan Skelton last season and, having rejoined Sam Loxton, was pulled up in a hunter chase in February; last of three finishers in 4m point last month; revival needed.

25/1

Form: PU-P3P D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
A declining force last year and he was pulled up at Warwick; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Rewritetherules

11st 12lb

J: Mr David O’Brien

T: Fred Timmis

Struck for the first time since 2021 with two wide-margin point wins towards the end of 2024 but it's been a struggle since and first-time cheekpieces need to have a fairly dramatic effect.

14/1

3rd

6

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:42 Ludlow

Rewritetherules

11st 12lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Fred Timmis

Three wins over regulation fences and a multiple point scorer; however, beaten at odds of 2-5 in his penultimate point and was pulled up in the next.

66/1

9

8th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Rewritetherules

11st 12lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Miss Hannah Roach

in touch with leaders, towards rear before 6th, struggling before 9th, no chance when fell 4 out

8/1

Non-runners

Dinny Lacey

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.70
Straight Forecast £21.62
Trifecta £204.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Macklin

POSTDATA:

Lalor

The Guardian:

Drop Flight

TOPSPEED:

Lieutenant Rocco

The Times:

Macklin

Telegraph:

Macklin

Daily Mail:

Macklin

D Express:

Macklin

The Star:

Macklin

WEST COUNTRY:

Lalor

Daily Mirror:

Lalor

The Sun:

Lalor

Daily Record:

Lalor