February 29 / 14.05 Taunton

14.05

Soft

West Buckland Primary Racing To School Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
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West Buckland Primary Racing To School Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 655621

Last run: 3 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground Flat winner at 1m4f in France; no match for an improved one in his first 2m handicap, at Lingfield, but he was quite an emphatic winner at Plumpton (soft) on Monday; penalty to carry with a slight query about the extra 3f on this swift return but he does look on the up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

14:00 Newbury

Activist

11st 11lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Four-time hurdle winner; bounced back from a poor run when second at Plumpton (2m4f, soft; tongue-tie refitted) this month and new jockey Rian Corcoran claims a useful 6lb; shortlisted.

7/1

2nd

2

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:45 Plumpton

Activist

11st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Four-time winner over hurdles and ran okay in his first two races after a wind operation before failing to give his running at Fontwell a month ago; would have a chance if he's back to anything like his best.

12/1

4

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:55 Chepstow

Activist

11st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Drew clear to score in first-time visor at Fonwell (2m3f, good to soft) in March and is now 4-14 over hurdles; returns from seven-month absence on career-high mark but won when fresh last autumn; a possible.

10/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 95-786

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Took time to recapture the mild promise shown on bumper debut but a first-time hood (retained) may have helped when he did good late work to take sixth of 14 finishers over C&D (good) 23 days ago; may yet do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:07 Worcester

Whynotnowroy

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Neil Mulholland

0-5 over fences but looked suited by the drop back in trip and gave very good account when second of ten over C&D (good) in June; player off same mark if still in same form after 111-day break.

7/1

2nd

8

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Worcester

Whynotnowroy

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Neil Mulholland

Won a 2m5f hurdle for former yard; good runs for this one in both disciplines but tailed off in his last three races, all handicap chases at about 3m.

8/1

2nd

6

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:30 Southwell

Whynotnowroy

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, smooth headway 14th, lost ground quickly before 3 out, weakened 2 out

12/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: PP-98

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner in 2022; had poor results in novice hurdles, including in this headgear combination on latest, but is very temptingly treated now handicapping off a rock-bottom mark; market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

8th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Come On Paddy Mac

10st 5lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Neil Mulholland

midfield, mistake 3 out

5/1

10

8th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Come On Paddy Mac

10st 5lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Neil Mulholland

midfield, mistake 3 out

5/1

3rd

9

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Come On Paddy Mac

10st 5lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, not fluent 5th

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 413262 BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Bled from the nose on Boxing Day but is generally reliable and although his level in handicaps is well established now he acts well on testing ground and was back to form over C&D last week; clear contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:18 Ffos Las

Imperial Measure

10st 4lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Inconsistent 7yo who has modest 1-21 strike-rate and needs to rebound from a heavy defeat last month; competes off career-low mark here but needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces.

10/1

5th

11

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

15:47 Fontwell

Imperial Measure

10st 4lb

T: Evan Williams

Inconsistent but wasn't beaten far when third of four at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) and then fell early at Ffos Las (4-1); should be in the mix.

4/1

5

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

14:05 Ffos Las

Imperial Measure

10st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

0-5 over fences and not very consistent but wasn't beaten far when third of four at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) last month and remains on career-low mark for this first venture beyond that trip.

4/1

Form: 86P-9P

Last run: 79 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced; not yet shown much, pulled up on handicap debut over 3m at Wincanton in December, but had wind surgery since and now tongue tied; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Hasn't lived up to market expectations since switched to handicap hurdles; not bred for fences but he must be thought capable of better and this isn't strong; cheekpieces tried after one run in blinkers.

10/1

7th

11

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.

8/1

7th

11

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.

8/1

Form: 0-P635

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Poor form in first two handicaps but he achieved more when third, not far behind a subsequent winner, at Exeter (2m2f, soft) in December and he had little hope back in a novice since; not ruled out at the right level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Wellwillya

10st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Second of two wins over fences came at this track (2m5f, heavy) in February 2025; comfortably held when fourth of seven finishers over C&D (good) last month and needs to show improvement.

9/1

4th

9

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Wellwillya

10st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Record of 2-7 over fences and he ran a big race in defeat at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; is also well suited by this track and he should be in the mix again after a short break.

10/1

Form: 239-07

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Showed early promise in good-ground maiden hurdles at 2m and 2m4f but his handicap form for both yards hasn't matched up and he may need to wait for good ground again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

2nd Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

18:40 Stratford

Sarsen

11st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Seemed to respond well to first-time blinkers when very respectable third at Fontwell (2m1f, good) in May but is 0-7 over hurdles now and has essentially become disappointing.

5/1

3rd

6

26th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

17:35 Fontwell

Sarsen

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Early promise over hurdles for Alan King but has gone the wrong way, including in three starts for this yard (the tongue-tie going on); blinkers are now added; probably best watched.

12/1

3rd

6

26th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

17:35 Fontwell

Sarsen

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Early promise over hurdles for Alan King but has gone the wrong way, including in three starts for this yard (the tongue-tie going on); blinkers are now added; probably best watched.

12/1

Form: 0666

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
All four races at Chepstow; well held so far but she didn't look devoid of ability when a plugging-on sixth of nine finishers in a 2m novice (heavy) there last month and ordinary handicaps surely more her level, with the return to 2m3f expected to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 103y

Class 4

20:05 Aintree

Come On Nia

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Andrew J Martin

Won twice over about 2m in early part of last season (good to soft/good) and gave very good account when fifth in Grade 2 mares' novices' handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) in March; eased in grade; a possible.

14/1

7

16th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 103y

Class 4

20:05 Aintree

Come On Nia

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Andrew J Martin

Won twice over about 2m in early part of last season (good to soft/good) and gave very good account when fifth in Grade 2 mares' novices' handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) in March; eased in grade; a possible.

14/1

5

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Come On Nia

11st 5lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Andrew J Martin

Won twice over about 2m in early part of this season and gave very good account when fifth in Grade 2 mares' novices' handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) last month; eased in grade; respected.

10/1

Form: 3860

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Just a hint of ability in qualifying runs but he struggled on his handicap debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) and needs lots more for the new trip with a visor replacing blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pivotal Sky

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Mitchell Hunt

raced wide, in touch with leaders, niggled along after 3rd

25/1

10th

16

12th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:30 Wincanton

Pivotal Sky

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Mitchell Hunt

never going well, always behind, tailed off

40/1

6th

9

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:20 Taunton

Pivotal Sky

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Mitchell Hunt

Beaten 21l when third in 2m Ludlow juvenile hurdle on debut and comfortably held at Exeter since; first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) need to spark major improvement.

66/1

Non-runners

Grandmaster Flash

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.20
Straight Forecast £23.38
Tricast £116.47
Trifecta £136.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Imperial Measure

WEST COUNTRY:

Activist

SPOTLIGHT:

Whynotnowroy

POSTDATA:

Imperial Measure

Telegraph:

Imperial Measure

The Guardian:

Imperial Measure

Daily Mail:

Imperial Measure

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Measure

The Sun:

Imperial Measure

Daily Record:

Imperial Measure

The Times:

Activist

D Express:

Activist

The Star:

Activist