March 30 / 15.15 Taunton

15.15

Soft

Jobseekers Recruitment Services 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5016.95
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Jobseekers Recruitment Services 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 6-2521 D

Last run: 118 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Made all for an easy success in small-field novice hurdle at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) in December when last seen, proving suited by going beyond 2m for the first time; now fitted with tongue-tie; open to further progress at this sort of trip and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Decorated

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Has appreciated the return to hurdles and made pretty much all over 2m3f (good) here three weeks ago; up 7lb but rated higher in the past.

13/8

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Decorated

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Has appreciated the return to hurdles and made pretty much all over 2m3f (good) here three weeks ago; up 7lb but rated higher in the past.

13/8

1st

2

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:47 Fontwell

Decorated

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Chasing did not go to plan but he's returned to hurdles on last two starts, runner-up over C&D (good to soft) on latest despite not always jumping fluently; off the same mark, he should make his presence felt.

11/4

7/2

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 50/651 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Made all in weak novice hurdle at Exeter (2m2f, good) last month, opening his account at the fifth attempt; while that form isn't especially compelling, further improvement is possible now he's on the scoreboard; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

26th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

19:39 Plumpton

Earth King

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Five-time winner over hurdles who had looked to be in the grip of the handicapper since winning at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) in July; however, having come back down in the weights, he stayed on well to regain the winning thread at Hereford (3m1f, good) this month; going back up 4lb is a slight concern, but this looks an inviting opportunity if he repeats that effort.

9/4

1st

3

5th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:47 Hereford

Earth King

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Four-time winner over hurdles who had looked to be in the grip of the handicapper since wining at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) in July; however, he's now back on that winning mark and his latest fourth of four at Taunton (3m, good) in a Class 3 was encouraging; respected.

6/1

4th

2

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

16:50 Taunton

Earth King

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Has four wins over hurdles but is 2lb above his last winning mark; returns from a break and probably needs to come down a few pounds.

9/2

Form: 21-13P D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Form dipped sharply in a Pertemps qualifier at Chepstow (2m7f) last month; progressive otherwise and career record stands at 3-6; may still have more to offer and enters calculations back down in trip/grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

2

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Operation Manna

11st 13lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

Returned from one-year absence with good second on chase debut at Exeter (3m, heavy) in December but looked out of sorts when pulled up last month and it's hard to know what to expect from him on return to hurdling.

16/1

6

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 3

15:37 Wincanton

Operation Manna

10st 13lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Low-mileage 10yo who was 5-12 over hurdles; having his first race over fences when a 5l second to Isaac Des Obeaux at Exeter (3m, heavy) where he needed some driving but kept on well; this stiffer stamina test could be up his street.

15/2

4

7th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 98y

Class 2

13:15 Sandown

Operation Manna

11st 5lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

Got up near the finish in this race 12 months ago (heavy) and warrants respect in his bid for a repeat win, notwithstanding a 5lb higher mark and lack of recent match practice (off since April).

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: -36462

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Went close at Wincanton (2m4f, good) on latest chase start despite some jumping issues; 6lb higher back hurdling but is still well treated on best form in this sphere (Listed winner last term); possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

1st Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

14:45 Exeter

Balko Saint

11st 10lb

J: Mr Peter Summers

T: Jane Williams

Very well handicapped on some of last year's placed form but returned from break with three below-par runs in the autumn and needs to turn a corner; won a heavy-ground hurdle in France in 2021 but may be best suited by good ground.

16/1

7th

7

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

14:05 Taunton

Balko Saint

11st 2lb

J: Mr Peter Summers

T: Jane Williams

Runner-up four times over fences at up to 2m5f during the spring/summer but below par in a hurdle race/chase at Wincanton since returning from a break; up in trip; others have less to prove.

20/1

Form: 42-566

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Hurdles winner in France; has come up well short in three British races but may improve off this reduced mark and with Ned Fox taking off a handy 7lb; in excellent hands and not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

31st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

15:55 Leicester

Oxygen

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Looked an exciting prospect (on the back of a wind op) when landing 2m4f handicap chases at Lingfield and Plumpton this winter but he beat only one at Plumpton last time; he remains with potential though and shouldn't be written off by any means.

3/1

4th

5

7th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 3

13:15 Plumpton

Oxygen

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French 6yo; unplaced all four hurdling starts for Venetia Williams last season but, following a wind op, is 2-2 since switched back to chasing this term, the latter win over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; should be fine on today's slower ground and has plenty of scope for further progress.

9/4

Form: 67453/

Last run: 730 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden; absent since finishing third at Warwick (2m5f, good) two years ago; represents major yard and may be capable of progress now handicapping; interesting on return to action, especially if the market speaks positively.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

12th Jun 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:25 Southwell

Roscoe Tara

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Seven-race maiden; well-held fourth of seven at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) last month but that was only his second run after a mammoth absence and he shaped as though this step up to 3m could suit; one to keep an eye on.

5/1

4th

6

9th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Roscoe Tara

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

prominent

7/1

6

30th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Roscoe Tara

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Alan King

Five-race maiden; absent since finishing third at Warwick (2m5f, good) two years ago; represents major yard and may be capable of progress now handicapping; interesting on return to action, especially if the market speaks positively.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.70
Straight Forecast £13.15
Trifecta £43.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Decorated

POSTDATA:

Balko Saint

The Times:

Roscoe Tara

Telegraph:

Earth King

RP Ratings:

Decorated

TOPSPEED:

Decorated

LAMBOURN:

Decorated

D Express:

Decorated

Daily Mirror:

Decorated

Daily Record:

Decorated

The Star:

Roscoe Tara

WEST COUNTRY:

Balko Saint

The Guardian:

Balko Saint

Daily Mail:

Balko Saint

The Sun:

Balko Saint