November 16 / 14.25 Taunton

14.25

Good

Colin Crawley Mad As A Hatter Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6680.46
  • 2m 2f 40y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Colin Crawley Mad As A Hatter Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 5225-4 D

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
French bumper and 2m2f hurdle winner on soft ground; same mark as when 1l second in a Doncaster handicap hurdle (2m3f, good) in March; almost 9l behind Surtitle when fourth at Huntingdon in May (latest); may be capable of better now going chasing for in-form yard; market check needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead

12/1

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead, lost position and squeezed out 5th, dropped to rear 7th, struggling 9th, jockey looked down to see if something was amiss after 10th, soon eased and pulled up

12/1

4th

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 4

15:00 Taunton

Heros

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Dual 2m2f course winner last season; not at best on either outing this term but ran well to a point in stronger race than this at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and is sure to be suited by the return to this track; might be the answer.

11/2

5/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 3174-5

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
1m AW and dual 2m hurdle winner; may just have needed the run after a break on his chase debut at Kempton (2m2f, good) last month; should be capable of stepping up on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Non Stop

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Landed his fourth success over hurdles at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in December but yet to get off the mark in this sphere after seven attempts; beaten 30l when third of four finishers at Plumpton (2m1f, soft) four weeks ago; has had wind surgery since and needs to step up.

7/2

3rd

1

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Non Stop

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Beaten 10l off this mark in an Ascot handicap hurdle last time after his win in a first-time tongue-tie at Wincanton (good to soft; won on heavy); returns to fences in pretty good form and he's finished runner-up three times in this discipline; thereabouts.

7/2

2nd

6

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

15:50 Stratford

Non Stop

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

in touch with leaders, jumped left and lost ground 2nd, headway when hit 2 out

2/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: -06731 C

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Dual 1m2f Flat and dual 2m hurdle winner; scored for the first time since joining this trainer when getting up close home in a Worcester handicap chase (2m, good to soft) latest; 1lb rise gives him a chance of a successful follow-up, if seeing out this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

14

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Runs off a mark 10lb lower than when fifth of 14 in this last year, beaten just over 13l; he's run a couple of reasonable races this season but hasn't shown enough to suggest he's the one to be on today.

33/1

3rd

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Led close home to win this race off 5lb higher a year ago (soft ground) and was seemingly perked up by cheekpieces when third on both outings last month; made up considerable ground from the rear at Sandown (1m7f, soft) on latter occasion and has strong claims here if the headgear continues to aid him.

15/8

3rd

9

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Acts on any ground; half-length second off 4lb higher in this contest 12 months ago; out of sorts this term until posting a resurgent effort, behind solid rivals, in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor most recently; enters calculations in the retained headgear.

11/2

Form: 735B3- C

Last run: 203 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner at up to 2m3f (including here) on slow ground; has been unable to recapture best 2022 form in six starts since wind surgery but still good enough to be placed three more times; drops 2lb for this chase debut; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:50 Taunton

Kingofthewest

11st 10lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

raced in second, fell 3rd

5/2

2nd

4

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Lingfield

Kingofthewest

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

prominent, left in third 9th, stayed on run-in, went third towards finish, no match for winner

7/2

Form: 2215-P C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
2m3f course winner on handicap debut over hurdles last December, when 11lb lower; peak effort came when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) in April, when 1lb lower; well beaten here on final start of last season and didn't jump well on chase debut at Kempton last month; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Market Rasen

Fame And Fun

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Has returned from a break in good order and gave an in-form rival a right fright at Worcester (2m7f, good); won't mind rain.

11/2

8

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Worcester

Fame And Fun

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Encouraging third after a three-month break at Stratford (2m7f, good) last month; looks the type to be at his best in the summer and holds sound claims.

5/1

6

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Fame And Fun

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won modest chase at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy) in January and is also suited by much faster ground but has become very inconsistent in recent years; others in this line-up have much more appealing profiles.

12/1

Form: P5-2P6

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
2m hurdle winner (good); got tired on last month's return from a break at Wincanton (2m5f, good); well treated on this chase debut, based on his best effort over hurdles, and this drop back in trip looks positive; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:45 Wincanton

The Plimsoll Line

11st 12lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jeremy Scott

Chasing the last twice, being the last to finish on both occasions; hasn't been the easiest to predict over hurdles but he has placed form off higher marks.

7/1

4th

4

19th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

12:50 Wincanton

The Plimsoll Line

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

raced in third, struggling and lost position after 4 out, weakened after 3 out

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 16435-

Last run: 254 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won a Bangor maiden hurdle (2m, good) on debut for Harry Whittington; bettered that when third trying to make all at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) in February; didn't jump well enough back there (soft) in March; drops 2lb for chase/stable debut; probable player if jumping holds up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Keep Running

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right hind; major improvement when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft), the latter effort marked up as he jumped to the right; couldn't dominate upped to 20.5f at Kempton but is on the shortlist back in trip.

16/1

13

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Keep Running

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right hind; major improvement when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft), the latter effort marked up as he jumped to the right; couldn't dominate upped to 20.5f at Kempton but is on the shortlist back in trip.

16/1

2nd

5

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:10 Kempton

Keep Running

10st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right-hind; major improvement the next twice when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft); deserves extra credit for latest win as he jumped to the right at that left-handed track; seemed fine at 2m4f last March; thriving and could prove tough to catch.

9/2

Form: 34-123

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdles winner at up to 2m3f; got tired on his return from a 138-day break when third on his chasing debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; open to improvement in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

16th Nov 2023

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 4

14:25 Taunton

Surtitle

11st 9lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Dual hurdles winner at up to 2m3f; got tired on his return from a 138-day break when third on his chasing debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; open to improvement in this sphere.

4/1

3rd

3

24th Oct 2023

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:30 Exeter

Surtitle

11st 7lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

prominent, disputing second 3 out, weakened last

6/1

Non-runners

Issar d'Airy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.90
Straight Forecast £15.23
Tricast £132.14
Trifecta £124.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Dr T J Eckleburg

WEST COUNTRY:

Non Stop

SPOTLIGHT:

Surtitle

Telegraph:

Issar d'Airy

LAMBOURN:

Keep Running

The Star:

Kingofthewest

Daily Mail:

Non Stop

The Sun:

Non Stop

D Express:

Surtitle

Daily Record:

Surtitle

TOPSPEED:

Dr T J Eckleburg

POSTDATA:

Dr T J Eckleburg

The Times:

Dr T J Eckleburg

The Guardian:

Dr T J Eckleburg

Daily Mirror:

Dr T J Eckleburg