March 20 / 15.15 Taunton

15.15

Good To Soft

Anthony Trollope-Bellew Memorial Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £8713.65
  • 2m 7f 3y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Anthony Trollope-Bellew Memorial Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 542-12 BF

Last run: 111 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Made winning seasonal/chase debut at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in November and the form of his clear second at Ayr (2m4f, soft) later that month has been well advertised by the winner since; moves up in trip after 111-day break; major player if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

14th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:28 Kempton

Doctor Ken

12st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

The most recent of two chase wins came at 2m7f (good to soft; has won on good) in March 2023; his career punctuated by layoffs since but he's run respectably in better races than this since the latest of them and should make a bold bid; cheekpieces on.

13/8

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 14-422 D

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
In the frame all three starts this season, most recently when second in stamina test at Exeter (3m, heavy; first-time cheekpieces) in January; given ten weeks to recover from that and should be fine on today's forecast faster ground; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

9th Apr 2023

Heavy

3m 3f 208y

Class 3

15:25 Ffos Las

New Age Dawning

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Lightly raced 9yo; runner-up at Ffos Las, Exeter and Taunton on last three starts, with cheekpieces on latest two occasions; stays 3m on heavy going but unraced beyond that and others may see this out better.

7/1

2nd

5

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:15 Taunton

New Age Dawning

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

In the frame all three starts this season, most recently when second in stamina test at Exeter (3m, heavy; first-time cheekpieces) in January; given ten weeks to recover from that and should be fine on today's forecast faster ground; one to consider.

6/1

5

31st Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:00 Lingfield

New Age Dawning

11st 6lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: David Pipe

Had ups and downs since going chasing and no real reason to think he's well treated despite being on the same mark as when beating two rivals at Ffos Las last January (2m5f, heavy); perhaps this shorter trip will suit after an unavailing slog over 3m at Exeter recently.

5/1

Form: 5-3863

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Not in peak form this season but has become well handicapped, and shaped very much as though today's move back up in trip will suit when staying-on third at Huntingdon (2m4f, good; second-time cheekpieces) two weeks ago; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

26th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

19:39 Plumpton

Striking A Pose

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Recorded his sixth hurdle win when making all off a reduced mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in April, and his follow-up bid off this mark was respectable back there 20 days ago; capable off this mark but not without risk.

9/2

4th

1

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Striking A Pose

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Recorded his sixth hurdle win when making all off a reduced mark over C&D (good; 4-1) three weeks ago; back up 4lb but remains well treated on old form and is versatile ground-wise; key player.

5/2

1st

2

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

Striking A Pose

11st 13lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Five-time hurdle winner who hasn't looked like adding to that on recent efforts, although latest was more encouraging over C&D; well treated on past form but needs to step up.

10/1

Form: 21U/74 D

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 9yo who missed all of last season then began his chasing career with two heavy defeats at Chepstow (2m7f) in December; in good hands and not written off just yet but comes here with a lot to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:43 Newton Abbot

Young Buck

12st 4lb

J: Mr Darren Edwards

T: D Summersby

Won this race comfortably by over 9l for Paul Nicholls in 2023 (good ground) and came good for current stable in soft-ground open point in March; not discredited when fifth in a good point last month; respected.

9/4

1st

2

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:43 Newton Abbot

Young Buck

12st 4lb

J: Mr Darren Edwards

T: D Summersby

Won this race comfortably by over 9l for Paul Nicholls in 2023 (good ground) and came good for current stable in soft-ground open point in March; not discredited when fifth in a good point last month; respected.

9/4

Form: 61F/P-

Last run: 623 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Scored off 4lb lower on chasing debut at Hereford (2m5f, soft) in March 2021 but failed to complete his next two races and is entitled to benefit from this first run for 623 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

27th Jul 2023

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Worcester

Fraternel

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Well beaten in both starts this year after a long absence; both wins on soft ground and still time for him to recover but more to prove than most.

20/1

4th

2

24th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

18:20 Southwell

Fraternel

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alan King

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 7th, dropped to rear 12th, pushed along briefly and reminder after 15th, ridden when mistake 4 out, rallied before 3 out, weakening when slow jump 2 out, tailed off

9/1

2

21st May 2023

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Fraternel

11st 13lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Won off 1lb lower at Hereford (2m5f, soft) in March 2021 but made low-key return from long absence two months ago and needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing.

14/1

Form: 43-62P

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Bumped into thriving rival when second at Chepstow (2m3f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in December and remains well handicapped on some of last season's form but ran poorly at Sandown recently and it's hard to predict whether he'll bounce back in a first-time visor here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

14:40 Hereford

Golden Whisky

11st 11lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Useful in his prime but has not been firing on all cylinders since returning from long layoff in the autumn (four runs); continues to slide down the weights but it's probably wise to wait for some encouraging signals from the betting.

9/1

5th

3

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 4

15:08 Exeter

Golden Whisky

11st 9lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has dropped a long way in the weights and hasn't been running too badly following an absence without suggesting he's a winner waiting to happen.

10/1

5th

3

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 4

15:08 Exeter

Golden Whisky

11st 9lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has dropped a long way in the weights and hasn't been running too badly following an absence without suggesting he's a winner waiting to happen.

10/1

Form: -5PP2P D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner; seemingly back in good form when staying-on second at Kempton (2m4f, soft) in January but struggled over same C&D last month and has now been pulled up on three of last four appearances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:00 Fontwell

Kap Auteuil

11st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 10th

13/2

6th

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:00 Fontwell

Kap Auteuil

11st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 10th

13/2

4th

3

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

16:47 Chepstow

Kap Auteuil

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Toby Lawes

Has looked regressive for a while and fitted with a visor for last two races; the last one was a bit more encouraging but he was still beaten 16l.

12/1

Form: 540334 BF

Last run: 2 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 8yo who finished third on first two starts for his new stable this year, more recently when running big race under very positive ride at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) last month, but wasn't quite in the same form when beaten favourite at Uttoxeter on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:55 Southwell

Key Commander

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

1-19 over hurdles and 1-14 as a chaser; returning from 310 days off when tailed off in a handicap hurdle at Warwick and not easy to side with on the back of that.

11/2

6th

8

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:05 Warwick

Key Commander

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Ex-Irish 8yo with a strike-rate of 2-33; ran well in three chases for Mel Rowley last year but returns to hurdles following an absence and probably best watched.

25/1

Non-runners

Key Commander

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.40
Straight Forecast £10.62
Tricast £27.33
Trifecta £21.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Doctor Ken

WEST COUNTRY:

New Age Dawning

RP Ratings:

Striking A Pose

Telegraph:

Young Buck

TOPSPEED:

Golden Whisky

The Guardian:

Doctor Ken

Daily Mail:

Doctor Ken

D Express:

Doctor Ken

Daily Mirror:

Doctor Ken

The Sun:

Doctor Ken

Daily Record:

Doctor Ken

POSTDATA:

Striking A Pose

The Times:

New Age Dawning

The Star:

New Age Dawning