December 21 / 14.23 Taunton

14.23

Good

Rowcliffes Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 14 runners
RTV
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Rowcliffes Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 752-44

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Showed significant ability in his last two bumpers and when fourth at Ascot this autumn in his two races over hurdles; two of those races were on good ground; he seemed to stay 2m3f okay last time, rallying, but still warrants each-way respect back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

29th Apr 2023

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:05 Sandown

Holetown Hero

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Dual winner at Taunton (2m/2m3f, good/good to soft) during the winter and probably posted personal-best effort when close second to short-odds favourite at Newton Abbot (2m1f, soft; front pair well clear) this month; benefits from Freddie Gingell's useful 7lb claim on today's handicap debut; enters calculations.

16/1

2nd

1

8th Apr 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

13:40 Newton Abbot

Holetown Hero

12st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

led, awkward jump 2nd

7/4

2nd

1

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Holetown Hero

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Comfortable win at Taunton (2m, good) in December and he followed up in clearcut style over 2m3f there (good to soft; made all) on Tuesday; only four days to get over that latest run and defying the double penalty should ask a big question but he's been on a roll and needs plenty of respect.

3/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 4

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Contested the 2,000 Guineas in 2020 and the useful form over his four seasons on the Flat catches the eye, albeit mostly well held in 2022; made a satisfactory hurdles debut at Huntingdon (2m, good) 17 days ago; needs to prove he has the stamina for this game but has to be given a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

(2)

15th Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Kenzai Warrior

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Roger Teal

Useful on his day but has a disappointing strike-rate and is far from solid judged on 2023 form (Flat/hurdles); others preferred.

20/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2-52

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut in a French bumper (1m7f, soft) last October and same again when beaten 13l in a novice at Lingfield (2m, soft) four weeks in his second hurdling/British start; different ground is forecast this time but he's in each-way calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

20:00 Newton Abbot

High Game Royal

12st 0lb

J: Mr Nicholas Romain

T: Mrs R A Romain

Beaten between 17l and 33l in his last three hunter chases, getting outpaced at trips from 2m5f to 3m1f; tongue-tie is now added; probably playing for minor money.

16/1

3rd

2

1st May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

17:40 Warwick

High Game Royal

12st 0lb

J: Mr Nicholas Romain

T: Mrs R A Romain

Outpaced on all four starts this year, latterly in hunter chases at Stratford (2m5f) and Exeter (3m), on which evidence the marathon on this card might have been a more comfortable fit; others are more persuasive.

20/1

3rd

8

7th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:10 Exeter

High Game Royal

11st 12lb

J: Mr Nicholas Romain

T: Mrs R A Romain

Won over hurdles in 2023 for the Hobbs/White operation; beaten in two points before finishing well held at Stratford recently.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 26

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won two small-field British points before runner-up in an Aintree bumper (again on good) in May and then bought for £45,000; none of that form is overly strong and although he could have come on since last month's bumper at Exeter, he needs to have done so in a major way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Chepstow

Broomfields Cave

11st 7lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Chasing record reads 3-6 following this month's 5l defeat of Loup De Maulde at Wincanton (3m1f, good; RPR 128), and although taking him to a new career-high mark the 4lb rise for that doesn't look an overreaction; no track or going issues, and case looks solid once more.

13/8

1st

3

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:20 Wincanton

Broomfields Cave

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Made it 2-4 over fences when landing a C&D handicap (good to soft) on Boxing Day; flopped at Doncaster (pulled up) last time but that was in the Grimthorpe and he could resume his progress on this drop back in grade; needs a close look.

7/2

11

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

Broomfields Cave

10st 11lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Both chase wins have come in small fields over similar trips to this; he's a strong stayer who might have more to give after only four runs over fences, so commands respect on that alone despite this rise in class.

10/1

Form: 21-3 D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner who went very close at Doncaster in his first bumper, before a win at Kelso in March (both on good); 11-8 favourite when 17l third of 11 in maiden hurdle at Sandown over six weeks ago, seemingly struggling on heavy ground; huge player if he reverts to the bumper form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 3

13:30 Doncaster

Bold Reaction

11st 7lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

took keen hold, led, soon went clear, jumped slightly left 5th

5/1

Form: 15 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won at Stratford in his first bumper; good fifth of 13 in Listed bumper at Cheltenham (also 2m on good) in November and should be open to progress switched to hurdling, in which case he'd have a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Kayf Legend

12st 0lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Looked quite promising when winning 2m novice hurdle in early 2023 but returned from long absence with three disappointing handicap hurdle runs this year; switches to fences with first-time cheekpieces fitted today.

16/1

10th

5

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Kayf Legend

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

midfield

20/1

8th

11

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:10 Newton Abbot

Kayf Legend

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Looked a nice prospect when winning at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in February last year; outclassed in Grade 2 at Kempton 11 days later and likely needed March's return from nearly a year away when down the field on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, soft); better can be expected with that run behind him but he has a bit to prove at present.

25/1

Form:

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Respected on German Flat pedigree and won a seven-runner point bumper in April by 7l; 12-1, rather pulled himself into the lead in bumper at Warwick (2m, good) in September and ended up tailed off; should prove himself vastly better than that in due course.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

26th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:40 Worcester

Nordy Lordy

10st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Bettered inauspicious handicap debut and arguably ran a fair bit better than eventual 22l defeat might suggest at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) a fortnight ago, having made a forward move from the rear on the final circuit; drops back in trip here; interesting.

8/1

5th

9

13th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

18:25 Warwick

Nordy Lordy

10st 2lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Point bumper winner but struggled in five runs under rules and pulled up on handicap debut at Taunton last month; 3lb out of the weights this time and can only be watched until he shows some positive signs.

20/1

12

13th Apr 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

16:55 Taunton

Nordy Lordy

10st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Point bumper winner; poor results under rules and has pulled hard on occasions; however, he's in good hands and may be capable of better now handicapping off just 79.

16/1

Form: 84

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in a bumper at Bangor and beaten 32l when fourth of ten in a C&D novice hurdle (good; tongue tied) four weeks ago; 80-1 and green in the latter but he's surely best watched again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

15th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:27 Hexham

Dark Duomo

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

0-13 under rules (placed in a 2m hurdle when with Philip Hobbs); hard to make a case for based on any form since last November.

25/1

8

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Dark Duomo

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

Did not show a great deal off lowly marks for Micky Hammond last season and is now 0-12 overall; blinkers the headgear of choice today; 5lb out of the weights; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

8

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Dark Duomo

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

Did not show a great deal off lowly marks for Micky Hammond last season and is now 0-12 overall; blinkers the headgear of choice today; 5lb out of the weights; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

Form: 56

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise in his two bumpers but ended up soundly beaten and others in this field have accomplished a good deal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

14

21st Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:23 Taunton

Pappa Rocco Coco

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jamie Snowden

Some promise in his two bumpers but ended up soundly beaten and others in this field have accomplished a good deal more.

40/1

6th

2

8th Nov 2022

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Lingfield (AW)

Pappa Rocco Coco

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

midfield

9/1

5th

7

3rd Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Pappa Rocco Coco

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

led, chased clear leader when headed after 1f, ridden when lost second home turn, weakened gradually from over 1f out

6/1

100/1

Form: 9-9

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Raced freely, well beaten in his two bumpers; tongue tied latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

12th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

12:28 Huntingdon

Libor Lad

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

in touch with leaders

20/1

4

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

12:50 Market Rasen

Libor Lad

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Dennis

midfield, bad mistake and unseated 2nd

20/1

4

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

12:50 Market Rasen

Libor Lad

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Dennis

midfield, bad mistake and unseated 2nd

20/1

Form: P-3P

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three Flat wins at about 1m4f, albeit at a lowly level; long absences are a feature in his profile and he's not shown enough in his three races over hurdles, beaten 24l into third at Market Rasen in November (penultimate start) on his only completion.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

21st Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:23 Taunton

Kaylens Mischief

11st 4lb

J: Max Kendrick

T: D J Jeffreys

Three Flat wins at about 1m4f, albeit at a lowly level; long absences are a feature in his profile and he's not shown enough in his three races over hurdles, beaten 24l into third at Market Rasen in November (penultimate start) on his only completion.

100/1

7

6th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

12:55 Uttoxeter

Kaylens Mischief

11st 6lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

took keen hold, in rear

33/1

3rd

8

10th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

12:55 Market Rasen

Kaylens Mischief

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

midfield, outpaced and ridden before 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went remote third run-in

25/1

Form: 4473-0

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in five Irish bumpers and heavy defeats on good ground in his three British hurdle races; absent 370 days before latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:23 Taunton

Blueblood

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Mark Gillard

Unplaced in five Irish bumpers and heavy defeats on good ground in his three British hurdle races; absent 370 days before latest.

100/1

10th

2

24th Nov 2022

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:40 Taunton

Blueblood

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Mark Gillard

Unplaced in five Irish bumpers and no impact in two hurdles in Britain last November (distant last of three second occasion); likely outsider on return.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair form when dual 1m4f Flat winner in 2021; no win in a mixed 2022 campaign (headgear last three starts) and this is his first run since he left Tim Easterby for 3,000gns in October.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(10)

5th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 4f 8y

Class 6

17:00 Thirsk

Eye Knee

9st 7lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

raced in third

10/1

4th

4

(5)

2nd Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 5f 192y

Class 5

18:55 Catterick

Eye Knee

8st 13lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

took keen hold, prominent, led after 4f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon lost position, weakened quickly inside final furlong

10/1

5th

3

(7)

8th May 2023

Good To Firm

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:10 Ayr

Eye Knee

9st 9lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

Infrequent winner who was bought for 3,000gns in October; pulled hard and reportedly hung badly left-handed when tailed off on stable debut last month (1m4f, soft); best watched.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran in three middle-distance maidens on the Flat for Johnny Murtagh in April-June 2021, showing some ability when sixth on last two occasions; returned from long absence with promising third on stable/hurdle debut at Plumpton yesterday (2m, soft) and should be able to win races in this code.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

8th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

15:00 Taunton

Killaloan

11st 9lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Paul Nicholls

Triple hurdle winner last season (twice here); ran very poorly on the Flat in October, after a break, but was very respectable third when back over hurdles at Wincanton (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in November; seemingly overlooked by Harry Cobden today but still enters calculations.

10/1

3rd

4

23rd Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

14:40 Wincanton

Killaloan

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, headway and prominent 5th

4/1

11th

1

(4)

18th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

17:45 Bath

Killaloan

10st 3lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Paul Nicholls

5yo who made it 3-5 over hurdles when completing a hat-trick in Ludlow handicap (2m, soft) in March; pulled up in final run in the spring but he's on a dangerous mark on this return to the Flat and is still unexposed in this sphere; interesting contender for yard that won this in 2018 and 2020.

7/2

Non-runners

Eye Knee, Killaloan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £39.70
Straight Forecast £39.40
Trifecta £215.80

Selections

RP Ratings:

Holetown Hero

SPOTLIGHT:

Bold Reaction

WEST COUNTRY:

High Game Royal

TOPSPEED:

Holetown Hero

POSTDATA:

Holetown Hero

The Times:

Holetown Hero

Telegraph:

Holetown Hero

Daily Mail:

Holetown Hero

D Express:

Holetown Hero

The Sun:

Holetown Hero

LAMBOURN:

Bold Reaction

The Guardian:

Bold Reaction

Daily Mirror:

Bold Reaction

The Star:

Bold Reaction

Daily Record:

Bold Reaction