March 20 / 13.40 Taunton

13.40

Good To Soft

Melanie And Philip Gibbs RNLI “Hands And Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Cond/Am) (Excellence Initiative)

  • Prize money: £5016.95
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Melanie And Philip Gibbs RNLI “Hands And Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Cond/Am) (Excellence Initiative)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.10
  • Place: £1.90

Form: -33264

Last run: 126 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in three good-ground maiden/novice hurdles last spring/summer (2m-2m4f) but his first two handicap runs were no better than respectable and he needs to find something extra on first start for four months.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Ike Sport

11st 4lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Ran quite well in the Pertemps Final and then runner-up in a big field handicap here in April (2m4f, good to soft; in this new headgear combination), improving on his fifth place the previous season; also ran second to Fingal's Hill in this 12 months ago; has nothing in hand off his mark but every chance of being involved.

11/4

2nd

21

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Ike Sport

11st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Ran respectably in this race 12 months ago (fifth off 3lb higher) and Cheltenham Festival handicap (3m) latest start; otherwise an exposed 8yo who is on a two-year losing spell; unlikely to come out on top.

14/1

9th

24

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ike Sport

10st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Last won in April 2024; well beaten in the 2m5f handicap here last March; second to Absolutely Doyen at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) at Christmas was best effort this term; ran creditably in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f) next time, before a modest show at Plumpton latest; others look more solid.

50/1

OUR TIP

8/11

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 121 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who made all to win Chepstow maiden (2m3f, good to soft) fairly comfortably by 10l last month, his second hurdle start; should have more improvement to come in handicaps and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Ioupy Collonges

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Has won two of his six chase starts but was beaten off this mark in a six-runner handicap at Wincanton last time when in the new cheekpieces (3m1f, heavy); unraced beyond that trip but he's one who doesn't do much in a hurry and today's marathon trip could be up his street.

16/1

2nd

3

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Ioupy Collonges

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Strike-rate of 5-10 under rules and has won two of his last three chases; it wasn't pretty here last time over C&D (good to soft) but he got the job done off just 3lb lower and today's slower surface could benefit him; cheekpieces added.

11/4

2nd

3

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Ioupy Collonges

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Strike-rate of 5-10 under rules and has won two of his last three chases; it wasn't pretty here last time over C&D (good to soft) but he got the job done off just 3lb lower and today's slower surface could benefit him; cheekpieces added.

11/4

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 595F17 D BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Led close home to open account under Jack Martin at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month, his fifth start over hurdles; disappointed when dropped back to 2m at Sandown a fortnight ago but his winning form has worked out pretty well and he's not yet fully exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Gingerbred

10st 8lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Carroll Gray

Runner-up twice in December (2m7f and near 3m3f) but right out of form since, way behind Lightonthewing last time; headgear first time.

25/1

Form: 5/4-3P

Last run: 69 days

W: 10st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on heavy ground at Exeter in January and now 0-11 over hurdles but the forecast better ground here ought to be much more suitable and he is too well handicapped to rule out; hood refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

15:18 Market Rasen

If Karls Berg Did

11st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Won twice on good ground for Milton Harris last summer (2m4f/2m7f); good third at Uttoxeter after 322-day break on stable debut last month (2m4f, soft); should come on for that; a contender.

3/1

3rd

5

26th May 2024

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

If Karls Berg Did

11st 1lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

held up in rear

7/1

3rd

5

26th May 2024

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

If Karls Berg Did

11st 1lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

held up in rear

7/1

Form: 81-250

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles in France (2m1f, soft) a year ago but was well beaten on last month's British debut at Sandown (2m, good to soft) and needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

17:25 Huntingdon

Flamelco

11st 1lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Sarah Humphrey

Has three wins over fences, including one over C&D; 2lb lower than for his last win at Plumpton last April but has been below his best on his last three starts, the latest when tailed off over hurdles.

16/1

7th

7

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton

Flamelco

11st 1lb

J: Jamie Gambin

T: Sarah Humphrey

Hasn't raced over hurdles for nearly three years but is competitively treated assuming he's in top form; on last winning chase mark.

14/1

2nd

3

8th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 77y

Class 4

15:45 Sedgefield

Flamelco

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

Gained a third chase win last season at Plumpton (2m1f) in April but went too freely when last of three in 2m Huntingdon handicap chase the following month; it would come as no surprise to see him bounce back after a break here though.

9/4

Form: /P085P

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Very respectable fifth over C&D (good) on last month's handicap debut (last-flight error extended margin of defeat) and still has low mileage but needs to bounce back quickly from a poor performance 11 days ago and is 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 3lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Dual C&D winner in 2023 and is considerably lower in the weights now; raced lazily, tailed off, in a division of this last year (good; 5-1); missing from action since so it's tough to know how he'll fare; market check advised.

25/1

8th

9

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 4lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Went close at Newcastle in January, but hasn't performed to the same level on his four runs since and his losing sequence continues.

20/1

Form: /2U3-P

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Ran big race over fences at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in November 2021 but seen only twice again since, more recently when pulled up over hurdles on last month's seasonal debut; might have needed that run and drops in grade here but others have less to prove; sports first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pontresina

11st 1lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ben Lund

411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.

50/1

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pontresina

11st 1lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ben Lund

411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.

50/1

7

21st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

13:03 Hereford

Pontresina

11st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Ben Lund

An 11yo returning from 411 days away and wasn't looking the force of old when last seen; too much to prove.

33/1

Form: -35P5P

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Close third on hurdle debut for Gordon Elliott at Perth (2m4f, good) last summer but this year's form for Seamus Mullins has been very underwhelming; drops back in trip after racing too freely in two handicaps last month (3m1f/3m2f); needs to turn a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

4th Jul 2023

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

18:40 Stratford

Dame Prestige

11st 4lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Seamus Mullins

held up in rear, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened

40/1

2

31st May 2023

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

17:03 Newton Abbot

Dame Prestige

11st 5lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Close third on hurdle debut for Gordon Elliott at Perth (2m4f, good) last summer but he's been pulled up in three of his four runs for new yard this year, including in his last two handicaps; dropped another 5lb but has a lot to prove.

33/1

6

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Dame Prestige

10st 7lb

J: Mr William Gough

T: Seamus Mullins

Close third on hurdle debut for Gordon Elliott at Perth (2m4f, good) last summer but this year's form for Seamus Mullins has been very underwhelming; drops back in trip after racing too freely in two handicaps last month (3m1f/3m2f); needs to turn a corner.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £14.22
Tricast £24.74
Trifecta £49.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ioupy Collonges

The Guardian:

Ike Sport

TOPSPEED:

Gingerbred

RP Ratings:

Ioupy Collonges

POSTDATA:

Ioupy Collonges

WEST COUNTRY:

Ioupy Collonges

The Times:

Ioupy Collonges

Telegraph:

Ioupy Collonges

Daily Mail:

Ioupy Collonges

D Express:

Ioupy Collonges

Daily Mirror:

Ioupy Collonges

The Sun:

Ioupy Collonges

The Star:

Ioupy Collonges

Daily Record:

Ioupy Collonges