January 08 / 15.00 Taunton

15.00

Soft

Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7366.99
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 12 runners
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Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 6P4-1P C

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Has very mixed record during seven-race hurdling career and needs to bounce back from a poor run in November, but looked in very good nick when winning on seasonal debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in October and should be fine on today's slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

18:30 Newton Abbot

Inca De Lafayette

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Only his third run over fences when strolling home in a small field at Plumpton (2m4f, good); hit with a 7lb rise but his last win over hurdles was off only 3lb lower; good chance.

11/8

1st

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Inca De Lafayette

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Fine on all ground; well handicapped on his peak form over hurdles and has only raced twice as a chaser; no match for the winner at Exeter last time (2m1f) but that horse was favourite and unexposed; respected.

9/4

2nd

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 3

14:40 Exeter

Inca De Lafayette

10st 11lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Latest effort (chase debut) was better than his reappearance; may be about to reach boiling point and looks interesting in receipt of weight all round; gained last hurdles win off 3lb higher.

13/2

8/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 4-233U

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Consistent 5yo who made the frame on first three starts this season (2m-2m4f) and was disputing third before last-flght fall in valuable Sandown handicap (2m, heavy) last month; still on a workable mark and ought to make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:40 Salisbury

Mr Freedom

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Sheena West

Six-time Flat winner who scored a fifth win on turf when taking Sandown handicap (1m6f, good) off 2lb lower in July 2024; also a multiple winner over hurdles who was on the premises when taking heavy last-flight fall at Plumpton just over one year ago; interesting to see how he goes in the market ahead of this comeback.

13/2

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Mr Freedom

11st 3lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.

7/1

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Mr Freedom

11st 3lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.

7/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 421-23 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Doubled hurdling tally when making all in 2m novice here (good to soft) at end of last season and was placed in two good handicaps towards end of last year, latterly when third at Aintree (2m4f, heavy); drops in grade here and could still have a bigger run in her; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Vicki Vale

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner when trained by Dan Sketon, but absent since her fourth at Ludlow (2m5f, good) for this stable in October 2024 and entitled to benefit from this outing.

20/1

2

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Vicki Vale

11st 8lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner for Dan Skelton, a yard she left after two quiet runs over fences; pulled up in that discipline on stable debut but showed a bit more spark back over hurdles at Ludlow; nothing wrong with her mark.

16/1

2

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Vicki Vale

11st 8lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner for Dan Skelton, a yard she left after two quiet runs over fences; pulled up in that discipline on stable debut but showed a bit more spark back over hurdles at Ludlow; nothing wrong with her mark.

16/1

Form: 21-592 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with a C&D win and returned to form with clear second over C&D (also good to soft) last month; has to take a 4lb rise on the chin but won't mind if the ground remains soft.
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

Form: 111P-3 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Triple hurdle winner last season (twice here); ran very poorly on the Flat in October, after a break, but was very respectable third when back over hurdles at Wincanton (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in November; seemingly overlooked by Harry Cobden today but still enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

8th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

15:00 Taunton

Killaloan

11st 9lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Paul Nicholls

Triple hurdle winner last season (twice here); ran very poorly on the Flat in October, after a break, but was very respectable third when back over hurdles at Wincanton (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in November; seemingly overlooked by Harry Cobden today but still enters calculations.

10/1

3rd

4

23rd Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

14:40 Wincanton

Killaloan

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, headway and prominent 5th

4/1

11th

1

(4)

18th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

17:45 Bath

Killaloan

10st 3lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Paul Nicholls

5yo who made it 3-5 over hurdles when completing a hat-trick in Ludlow handicap (2m, soft) in March; pulled up in final run in the spring but he's on a dangerous mark on this return to the Flat and is still unexposed in this sphere; interesting contender for yard that won this in 2018 and 2020.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 29214- D

Last run: 296 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Useful chaser who looked as good as ever when winning in first-time cheekpieces last February; unraced over hurdles since 2020, though, and the cheekpieces are missing on this belated seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, weakened gradually after 4 out

10/1

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Questionable what he achieved behind an easy winner when back chasing at Ludlow in February and especially after a lesser run at Newbury, albeit in a strong handicap (2m4f, good to soft); on the plus side, drying conditions are in his favour and his only previous attempt at 3m was in the valuable handicap at this track in 2022; could be a player after wind surgery.

10/1

5th

5

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Galahad Quest

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, outpaced after 12th, weakened after 2 out

11/2

Form: 16566- D

Last run: 311 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Five-time hurdle winner on good/good to soft ground; on a good mark for today's stable debut but has fitness to prove after ten-month absence and would appeal more on better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Getalead

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Has very good 8-32 hurdling strike-rate that includes win in 2024 edition of this race (good ground); not seen since July but has won when fresh before and returns on a workable mark; had another wind op last month (his fourth); shortlisted.

8/1

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Getalead

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Has very good 8-32 hurdling strike-rate that includes win in 2024 edition of this race (good ground); not seen since July but has won when fresh before and returns on a workable mark; had another wind op last month (his fourth); shortlisted.

8/1

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Getalead

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Has very good 8-32 hurdling strike-rate that includes win in 2024 edition of this race (good ground); not seen since July but has won when fresh before and returns on a workable mark; had another wind op last month (his fourth); shortlisted.

8/1

Form: 44

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who won a maiden point on debut last March and finished fourth in two slow-ground Chepstow maiden hurdles (2m/2m3f) in November; should have improvement to come in handicaps and no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Ask Brewster

10st 11lb

J: Mr S Cotter

T: Mrs C Williams

3m4f resulted in an 8l win at Cheltenham last April and he's won over 3m/3m2f in two of his three starts this season; latest was the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in which he was always front rank under Shane Cotter and responded admirably when Road To Home joined him on the run-in; up 7lb but this trip makes plenty of appeal and all five chase wins have been on good ground or good to firm (withdrawn from Scottish National last week due to the heavy); has a bit to prove going right-handed, with a run here in December prompting concern, but otherwise lots to like.

7/1

1st

22

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Ask Brewster

10st 11lb

J: Mr S Cotter

T: Mrs C Williams

Hat-trick last year (2m7f/3m4f, good/good to firm) featured a spring win at Cheltenham; ran well for a long way before tiring at Sandown (3m4f) in December on going that was good to soft, soft in places; better ground today would be a plus for his claims.

20/1

Form: P65805 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Very creditable second of 25 at Punchestown festival (2m4f, yielding) on stable debut last April but seems badly to have lost his way since; big leap of faith required to support him at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

6th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:42 Fontwell

Bread And Butter

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Cynthia Woods

Veteran who has been out of sorts for a while now and he's looking sharply regressive.

14/1

5th

8

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:50 Fontwell

Bread And Butter

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Cynthia Woods

Five-time hurdle winner (2m3f-2m5f) but his last success was 16 months ago and this veteran has been out of sorts in his last four runs; opposable.

40/1

8th

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

16:50 Wincanton

Bread And Butter

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Cynthia Woods

Five-time hurdle winner (2m3f-2m5f) but his last success was 16 months ago and this veteran has been out of sorts in his last three runs; opposable.

25/1

33/1

Form: -19P46 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner; back on a good mark now but was unable to land a telling blow over C&D (good to soft) last month and would appeal more on better ground.
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

3/1

Form: 23F45/

Last run: 778 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Not seen over hurdles since pulled up on handicap hurdle for Philip Hobbs at Cheltenham Festival in March 2020 and was well beaten in a chase on latest start over jumps in November 2021; however, has run commendably well in some major staying handicaps on the Flat for Hugo Palmer in the meantime, perhaps most notably when close second in last May's Chester Cup; now makes his debut for Olly Murphy off a very tempting mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(10)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 7f 196y

Class 2

14:40 Chester

Zoffee

9st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Hugo Palmer

Second, first and third in the last three Chester Cups; he didn't quite reproduce that form in the 2023 or 2024 campaigns, however, and tailed off at Royal Ascot on first attempt this season; comfortably held in fourth in this race last year; this does not look the time to catch him.

7/1

19th

11

(8)

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Zoffee

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Second, first and third in the last three Chester Cups and not far away in this race two years ago; back up 3lb since latest Chester Cup, however, and he didn't quite reproduce the Chester form in either the 2023 or 2024 campaigns.

20/1

3rd

8

(4)

9th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

Zoffee

8st 11lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Hugo Palmer

led narrowly, headed after 1f, soon prominent on inner, no extra final 110yds

10/1

Form: /0F1-7 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 7yo who won Ascot maiden (2m3f, soft) in very good style last April; below that form on good ground at Kempton in November and not seen again since, but is back on a slower surface for this handicap debut and still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

El Rio

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

3-6 over fences, the latest win gained at Kempton (2m4f, soft; made all) in February; needs to return from seven-month break in prime form to have any chance off current mark but the forecast good ground won't be a problem.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £75.50
Straight Forecast £72.80
Tricast £283.82
Trifecta £354.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Just Loose Change

The Times:

Vicki Vale

SPOTLIGHT:

El Rio

TOPSPEED:

Mr Freedom

RP RATINGS:

Bread And Butter

D Express:

Zoffee

Daily Mail:

Vicki Vale

The Sun:

Vicki Vale

Daily Record:

Vicki Vale

WEST COUNTRY:

Just Loose Change

Telegraph:

Just Loose Change

The Guardian:

Just Loose Change

Daily Mirror:

Just Loose Change

The Star:

Just Loose Change