December 14 / 14.40 Taunton

14.40

Soft

Classic Collection Holidays Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7208.56
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 11 runners
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Classic Collection Holidays Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.50
  • Place: £3.50

Form: 104-P4

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won two non-handicaps last season, on soft and good; behind Amelia's Dance at Kempton but that race wasn't really run to suit and he might well strip fitter for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Samuel Spade

12st 2lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Last season's light campaign over hurdles did not go well (tried in cheekpieces latterly) but he shouldn't mind getting back on drier ground and is too well handicapped to dismiss on chasing debut.

9/1

8th

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:53 Ascot

Samuel Spade

10st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Back to the same mark as for last season's convincing course win (2m7f, good) but hasn't finished in the first six this term, always behind over 2m5f here last time; takes another drop in distance and wears headgear for the first time.

12/1

7th

3

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Samuel Spade

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Has not had that many chances at this sort of trip and he drew clear to win at Ascot in February, beating 16 rivals (2m7f, good); was beaten under 2l in a strong Uttoxeter handicap on the Midlands' National card but that was under a very capable 5lb claimer; likely to need more here.

10/1

14/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 321-59 CD

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Signed off last season with a convincing C&D success off 6lb lower (good to soft; fine on soft); however, he'll need to leave his last two runs behind if he's to play a part.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:00 Taunton

Just Loose Change

12st 2lb

J: Mr Martin McIntyre

T: Darren McAlinden

Course hurdles winner in April 2023 and he won a handicap chase at Huntingdon in November 2024; mishaps have been a feature across his last three starts and he's down the pecking order today.

25/1

4th

5

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

14:20 Stratford

Just Loose Change

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nicky Martin

soon prominent, not fluent 6th

20/1

5th

8

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Just Loose Change

11st 7lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nicky Martin

Won at Huntingdon in November on his second chase start, but well-beaten second of three at Catterick next time and pulled up at Hereford most recently; first-time cheekpieces need to prompt a revival.

25/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 51/45 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; went missing for nearly 600 days after comfortably making all in a C&D novice in March 2022 (soft); his comeback run at Newton Abbot was encouraging and Sandown next time perhaps came too soon; has had a longer break prior to this and certainly not exposed just yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

14th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:40 Salisbury

Individualiste

8st 5lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Ben Lund

Winner over hurdles for Paul Nicholls and fences for Gavin Cromwell but pulled up at big prices in both hurdle starts for this yard; visor deployed on his belated handicap debut in this sphere.

50/1

6

5th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:17 Hereford

Individualiste

11st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Ben Lund

Lost his way over fences in Ireland and showed no signs of an immediate revival when pulled up reverting to hurdles on stable debut in March; too much to prove at present.

25/1

9

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:20 Uttoxeter

Individualiste

11st 6lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Ben Lund

Four-time winner (hurdles/fences) but he's lost his way and was pulled up in four of his last five runs in Ireland; left Gavin Cromwell since his last run in January and has plenty to prove for new yard; equipment removed.

66/1

Form: 63-701 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Not the easiest to catch right but the front two came clear when he returned to winning ways at Cheltenham (2m5f, good to soft) on latest start, with first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces back on; seems fine on soft ground and not without hope of defying a 6lb rise if holding his form.
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

Form: 545-22 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
No match for a progressive one at Wincanton (soft) but she went close when helping to set the pace at Kempton on latest start and she's a bit of a Taunton specialist; raised 3lb since last time but, unlike that race or at Wincanton, Tabitha Worsley can claim this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

19:20 Stratford

Amelias Dance

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

Runner-up five times last season but not at best when well-held fourth at Taunton (2m, soft) in March; pulled up after a bad early mistake at Kempton last month.

5/1

5th

1

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

19:20 Stratford

Amelias Dance

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

led, pressed leader when headed 2nd, led last (usual 2 out), headed home turn, weakened final 110yds

5/1

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton

Amelias Dance

11st 12lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

midfield, bad mistake and almost fell 3rd, soon pulled up quickly

14/1

Form: F-19P4 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Fourth in the 2m2f Cesarewitch on Flat in October; four-time winner over hurdles but no excuses when only fourth of six runners over C&D two weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(6)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Bashful Boy

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Pipe

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023 but he's been in fair form on AW this spring including when fourth on Polytrack (2m) in his last two starts; should be in the mix again but he needs to find more to make a big impact; cheekpieces are removed and blinkers return.

9/2

4th

4

(1)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:50 Kempton (AW)

Bashful Boy

9st 12lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Pipe

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023; expensive to follow in recent times but he arrives in form and this is a touch easier again off a career-low mark; can't be left out of calculations.

4/1

4th

4

(4)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

14:12 Lingfield (AW)

Bashful Boy

9st 7lb

J: Jack Dace

T: David Pipe

Losing run dates back to July 2023; conditions are no problem for this veteran and he has been running respectably of late; others appeal more all the same.

8/1

Form: 5412-P D

Last run: 220 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Regular mount for Harry Atkins; Hereford winner (2m3f, good to soft) last season who then finished second at Cheltenham (off just 2lb lower than today); pulled up on final run and has had wind surgery since; hard to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Samtara

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: Ms Claire Hart

1-31 and not always a strong finisher under rules previously, but really dug in to wrest the prize back at Mollington latest (2m4f, good to firm); plenty to find on peak ratings but confidence restored at least.

33/1

5

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Samtara

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: Ms Claire Hart

1-31 and not always a strong finisher under rules previously, but really dug in to wrest the prize back at Mollington latest (2m4f, good to firm); plenty to find on peak ratings but confidence restored at least.

33/1

8th

7

30th May 2024

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

18:10 Warwick

Samtara

11st 4lb

J: Mr Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Not the best of strike-rates but sound run when second over fences at Huntingdon last time (2m7f, good); well handicapped at present; a possible back hurdling.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-512P

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Outclassed in the Greatwood last time when pulled up at 100-1; usually consistent and went into that in form after competitive runs over 2m (good/heavy); however, he .does look on a tough mark and might be vulnerable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(4)

11th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

15:50 Southwell (AW)

Swaffham Bulbeck

9st 3lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Stuart Edmunds

A pretty useful jumper, last successful in a 2m handicap hurdle here in September; rarely seen on the Flat in recent years but he has finished second in staying handicaps on AW on his last two runs in this sphere; should be involved.

11/4

8th

1

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Swaffham Bulbeck

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Stuart Edmunds

Outclassed in the Greatwood last time when pulled up at 100-1; usually consistent and went into that in form after competitive runs over 2m (good/heavy); however, he .does look on a tough mark and might be vulnerable.

9/1

8/1

Form: 2249-

Last run: 287 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Disappointed in her two handicaps (2m/3m) but she's a winning pointer who showed promise in novice company; unwise to get too negative just yet and she could be interesting if there's money for her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 96y

17:28 Sligo

Iorens

10st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Turlough O’Connor

Showed promise early in his career; point winner for Sean Doyle and placed over hurdles for Dan Skelton; well exposed in points in recent seasons since return from Britain.

66/1

Form: 141-10 D

Last run: 165 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Very effective front-runner but perhaps went off too fast for his own good when a weakener at Cartmel in July latest (2m1f, good to soft); 6lb above last win and returns to further (all wins at up to 2m2f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

14:40 Perth

Inferno Sacree

11st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Front-runner; having his 40th career start but a first over 3m when successful at Taunton and he followed up at Plumpton (3m1f; again good to soft); subsequent defeat, again under Murray Dodd, suggests others in here might be better treated.

10/1

2nd

4

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

16:50 Taunton

Inferno Sacree

11st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Showed improved form when stepping up to 3m to land his sixth success over hurdles, over C&D (good to soft) in February and followed up at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; remains unexposed as a stayer and holds strong claims to land a three-timer.

4/5

1st

2

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Inferno Sacree

11st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Front-runner who has been consistent this season and ended a long losing streak at Taunton (3m, good to soft) 11 days ago; went up 5lb for that but this track also suits him and he remains unexposed as a stayer.

11/4

Form: U25/P6 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Bumper/hurdle winner in Ireland; quiet in two runs for this yard (2m, heavy; 2m4f, soft) but no surprise should he come good again at some point; has dropped 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

18th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Lingfield

Santana Plessis

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Simon Hodgson

Veteran; last win came in a 2m novice hurdle at Kilbeggan for Gordon Elliott in October 2020; struggled for Christian Williams last year, plummeting in the weights; all hopes pinned on wind surgery working the oracle off a 12-month absence; first start for Simon Hodgson.

33/1

7th

3

18th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Lingfield

Santana Plessis

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Simon Hodgson

Veteran; last win came in a 2m novice hurdle at Kilbeggan for Gordon Elliott in October 2020; struggled for Christian Williams last year, plummeting in the weights; all hopes pinned on wind surgery working the oracle off a 12-month absence; first start for Simon Hodgson.

33/1

0

7

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Santana Plessis

10st 10lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Christian Williams

Bumper/hurdle winner in Ireland; quiet in two runs for this yard (2m, heavy; 2m4f, soft) but no surprise should he come good again at some point; has dropped 5lb.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £65.40
Straight Forecast £55.23
Tricast £212.04
Trifecta £442.60

Selections

POSTDATA:

American Sniper

SPOTLIGHT:

Amelia's Dance

The Times:

Just Loose Change

D Express:

Individualiste

TOPSPEED:

Samtara

WEST COUNTRY:

American Sniper

Daily Mail:

American Sniper

Daily Mirror:

American Sniper

The Sun:

American Sniper

The Star:

American Sniper

Daily Record:

American Sniper

RP RATINGS:

Amelia's Dance

Telegraph:

Amelia's Dance

The Guardian:

Amelia's Dance