January 09 / 15.00 Taunton

15.00

Soft

Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6759.68
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
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Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 302-25

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Fair maiden on Flat and 1-7 over hurdles; decent first effort of the season when second to a well-treated rival at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) and perhaps 2m5f was a stretch at Cheltenham since; seems fine on soft and has good claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:00 Exeter

Forever William

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

didn't always jump with fluency, led, headed when not fluent 2nd, reminders when lost second after 7th, struggling from 9th, weakened before 4 out

11/8

3rd

1

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:00 Exeter

Forever William

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

didn't always jump with fluency, led, headed when not fluent 2nd, reminders when lost second after 7th, struggling from 9th, weakened before 4 out

11/8

7/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 22U113 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
His novice win here (2m, good) in November has worked out well and he might not have been at his best when a 17l third under a double penalty over C&D 19 days ago; could have races in him off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:56 Newton Abbot

American Sniper

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Has patchy profile but he's well handicapped on his Taunton second (2m3f, good) in December and he may have needed his reappearance run at Hereford this month; this step back up in trip is no problem and he's one to keep an eye on for in-form yard.

11/2

5th

1

5th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:17 Hereford

American Sniper

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Has become hard to predict, as his 16l fourth at Taunton (2m3f, good) in January would suggest, having failed to back up a decent effort there the previous month; back on his last winning mark and could play a leading role if at his best.

7/2

15

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

13:15 Cheltenham

American Sniper

10st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: David Pipe

Won big-field handicap off today's mark here (2m5f, good to soft) in November 2023 and was creditable sixth of 25 at Punchestown festival (2m3f, yielding) in April but his record between those two runs if very mixed and he's not an easy one to predict.

28/1

OUR TIP

100/30

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1221-1 D

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Consistent and improving; front two were clear when he overcame a late mistake to win over this far at Fontwell (soft) and that effort can be upgraded; 4lb rise seems very fair.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Sayadam

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders

14/1

11th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Sayadam

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders

14/1

3rd

1

12th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

15:25 Market Rasen

Sayadam

12st 1lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Yet to finish out of the frame; creditable third to one completing a hat-trick on first run over 3m at Taunton last time; has won on good/soft; a possible.

9/1

Form: /2224/ D

Last run: 737 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Predictably struggled on the Flat one month ago on his first sighting for 704 days; is a pretty useful hurdler who has slipped to a handy mark and is by no means ruled out; soft ground is fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

14:05 Newton Abbot

The Pinkn

12st 0lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Has struggled to find his best since returning from nearly two years away but last month's fourth at Wincanton, when not quite seeing out 2m5f+, was a definite step in the right direction; could well be involved.

9/1

4th

8

16th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

14:25 Wincanton

The Pinkn

11st 9lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Always towards rear when tried in cheekpieces two starts ago and was left behind when pace lifted in home straight here (2m4f; no headgear) last month; can't be supported with much confidence today but is now 12lb lower than when very respectable fourth at Taunton (2m3f, soft) in January.

14/1

Form: 32P-P4 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Mostly consistent over fences last season and ran okay in that discipline here one month ago in this first-time headgear combination; probably needed his reappearance in a handicap hurdle here in November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Uttoxeter

Quoi De Neuf

11st 13lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Fakenham scorer off 8lb higher just over a year ago (2m5f, good) but with one exception miles below that level since; appreciable rain would diminish his appeal yet further.

16/1

4th

2

24th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

19:30 Hereford

Quoi De Neuf

11st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Inconsistent and generally regressive 10yo; has claims if judged on his second at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) in November but two lesser efforts followed that; returns from 108-day break today.

6/1

Form: 1/111- CD

Last run: 321 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in a bumper and three non-handicap hurdles, all confined to her own sex on good to soft; looks on a tough mark but she won easily here when last seen in February (admittedly at long odds-on) and difficult to gauge how good she might be.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

18th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

15:15 Cheltenham

Lady Adare

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Fry

Has had three wind operations, the latest last May after a poor run at this meeting; won chase debut at Worcester in October and very good second in Grade 2 novice at Wincanton one month later, both at 2m4f, but a nine-day gap before latest start was seemingly insufficient as she ran poorly (2m1f); off 150 days since and needs improvement but could still have more to offer.

4/1

7th

1

18th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

15:15 Cheltenham

Lady Adare

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Fry

Has had three wind operations, the latest last May after a poor run at this meeting; won chase debut at Worcester in October and very good second in Grade 2 novice at Wincanton one month later, both at 2m4f, but a nine-day gap before latest start was seemingly insufficient as she ran poorly (2m1f); off 150 days since and needs improvement but could still have more to offer.

4/1

Form: /P8-P5 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Looked a good chasing prospect two seasons ago but the wheels have come off since injuring himself; neither of his runs this season have been overly encouraging (hurdle/chase) and today's hood is a first.
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

Form: 38/3-3 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on chase debut in June 2021 and not seen again until November when running quite well at Kempton (2m, soft); easy to back that day so probably needed the run; well treated on old form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

23rd Jul 2023

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Yes No Maybe So

10st 5lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Tom Lacey

raced in third and in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, not fluent 12th, weakened after 3 out

5/1

4th

5

9th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:20 Market Rasen

Yes No Maybe So

11st 7lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

Four wins in 2020 but no joy since; good second at Ffos Las in January (off 6lb higher) but has rather lost his way since; visor no help when pulled up latest and tongue-strap now enlisted for the first time.

14/1

1

8th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Worcester

Yes No Maybe So

11st 12lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Tom Lacey

Quite lightly raced since winning four in a row on good ground in 2020 and comes here after two disappointing efforts, the latter in refitted cheekpieces; needs to be perked up by the first-time visor.

16/1

Form: 34-F59 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
One-time smart chaser who is regressing and he has achieved little back over hurdles the last twice; a further drop in the weights can only help but he's opposable at the moment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:59 Chepstow

Rouge Vif

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Smart 2m chaser in his prime; generally very disappointing in recent years and absent since pulled up for Richard Bandey last May, but makes debut for latest new stable on a very tempting mark; worth a second look.

10/1

4th

1

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:59 Chepstow

Rouge Vif

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Smart 2m chaser in his prime; generally very disappointing in recent years and absent since pulled up for Richard Bandey last May, but makes debut for latest new stable on a very tempting mark; worth a second look.

10/1

2

9th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:25 Huntingdon

Rouge Vif

12st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Wins this all day on back class (RPRs peaked at 164 in 2020), but he lost his way in 2022-23 and second place (beaten 23l; made mistakes) on his stable debut in March owed plenty to others' mishaps; down in class and dropped another 5lb, but still couldn't have absolute faith in a revival.

8/1

Form: 114

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Very useful at up to 1m6f on the Flat and made a pleasing transition to hurdling with narrow wins at Uttoxeter and Wetherby; however, although he handles soft ground, his improvement under both codes has come on good or quicker; looked outclassed in a Kempton novice on Boxing Day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(2)

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:55 Bath

Throne Hall

11st 1lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Won back-to-back races at Musselburgh (2m) and Les Landes (1m5f) in April but he's been generally disappointing since; on dangerous mark on this step back up in trip but needs to turn things around; tongue-tie added.

9/2

6th

4

(6)

9th Sep 2025

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

14:10 Catterick

Throne Hall

10st 7lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Won back-to-back at Musselburgh (2m) and Les Landes (1m5f) in April but has been below par of late; paid the price for doing too much too soon when a weakening fifth to Stellarmasterpiece (1m4f, here; beaten 2l) on penultimate start; easing mark helpful.

11/2

6

(6)

26th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:10 Lingfield (AW)

Throne Hall

10st 4lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Made all when winning in a small field at Musselburgh in April (2m, good) and he followed up in Jersey 19 days later; poor run at Doncaster last month but he bounced back with a solid effort at Catterick last week (1m4f, good to firm); shouldn't be far away.

7/1

Non-runners

Rouge Vif

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £39.10
Straight Forecast £43.45
Tricast £85.42
Trifecta £143.20

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Lady Adare

RP Ratings:

Sayadam

The Times:

Quoi De Neuf

Daily Mail:

American Sniper

SPOTLIGHT:

Forever William

LAMBOURN:

Throne Hall

POSTDATA:

Rouge Vif

Telegraph:

Lady Adare

D Express:

Lady Adare

The Sun:

Lady Adare

Daily Record:

Lady Adare

TOPSPEED:

Sayadam

The Guardian:

Sayadam

Daily Mirror:

Sayadam

The Star:

Quoi De Neuf