January 20 / 14.50 Taunton

14.50

Good To Soft

Stables Business Park Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Stables Business Park Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 14FP-2

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Won the Grade 1 hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree as a juvenile; had one mammoth absence since then and was returning from another lengthy break (336 days) when runner-up under 12st at Doncaster a month ago (2m3f, good to soft); the winner wasn't disgraced in last week's Lanzarote; strongly considered with Freddie Gordon taking off 5lb this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

1

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:05 Cheltenham

Pentland Hills

12st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear throughout, outpaced 7th

12/1

15th

1

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:05 Cheltenham

Pentland Hills

12st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear throughout, outpaced 7th

12/1

2

2nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:42 Kelso

Pentland Hills

11st 9lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Lightly raced, with mixed fortunes, since winning the Triumph Hurdle in March 2019; however, he returned from latest layoff with good second to Serious Operator at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in December and may be able to build on that; one to consider.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: /1211- C

Last run: 568 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Record of 4-12 over hurdles and was in good form chasing when last seen, winning three small-field races during the summer of 2022; strong form claims off this mark if as good as he was after a long absence; trainer runs two and the owners three, so makes sense to heed market signals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

12th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

16:25 Plumpton

Wild Max

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second

7/1

5th

2

12th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

16:25 Plumpton

Wild Max

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second

7/1

11th

4

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Wild Max

11st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

midfield

25/1

Form: -44152 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Four wins divided between bumpers and hurdles; got competitive a long way out before getting collared in a slow-motion finish at Hereford last month (2m3f, good); off the same mark here and likely to go well if this pans out a tad more favourably.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Luttrell Lad

10st 12lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Tom Lacey

Won at Exeter and then a close fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good); could put a line through his subsequent races on account of heavy ground and a trip too far; respected.

14/1

4th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Luttrell Lad

11st 1lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Tom Lacey

Won at Exeter (2m2f) in November and creditable fourth at Sandown (2m4f) next time, before heavy ground might excuse his latest start; this, however, is his first foray beyond 2m6f, after 37 races and at the age of ten.

16/1

4th

4

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Luttrell Lad

11st 3lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

November's Exeter win looked unlikely but he stayed on much the best over 2m2f on good to soft; not beaten far off this 6lb higher mark at Sandown (2m4f, good) when close up behind Henri The Second who won easily back there last weekend; thoroughly exposed but enters the equation for sure; has won on heavy.

15/2

Form: P222U1 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
In good form over fences before his successful return to hurdling under Charlie Maggs at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) where he pretty much made all; only 2lb higher than for that narrow success and the third Rare Edition won at Kempton last weekend; every chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 3

15:30 Catterick

Geromino

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

10yo who returned from long absence with a pretty encouraging fourth in 0-135 at Haydock in December; he's well treated on his old form and could be in the mix now dropping into a 0-125; wins have come on good/good to soft.

6/1

Form: 1111F/ CD BF

Last run: 872 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Won six hurdle races during 2021, the last five under Ben Bromley; has been a long-time absent but he's potentially well handicapped and the market should be informative with the owners running three.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

26th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Chez Hans

11st 10lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Won six hurdle races during 2021, the last five under Ben Bromley; has been a long-time absent but he's well handicapped and the market should be revealing.

16/1

Form: 1115P4 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Defied a 2lb lower mark last summer (2m4f, good; fine on softer) and returns to this discipline after two defeats over fences, the latest a respectable effort (beaten 10l); probably in fair form and entitled to run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:40 Newton Abbot

Mullinaree

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Syd Hosie

Landed a five-timer over hurdles (2m3f-2m4f) for Milton Harris last March-June, ridden by Bradley Harris and the final leg off 5lb higher than today; respectable fourth at Plumpton in December on his second attempt over fences for this stable but off since pulling up over hurdles the following month; needs to be ready to roll back from a break and reverting to fences.

7/1

0

2

26th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Mullinaree

11st 10lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

Defied a 2lb lower mark last summer (2m4f, good; fine on softer) and returns to this discipline after two defeats over fences, the latest a respectable effort (beaten 10l); probably in fair form and entitled to run well.

20/1

Form: 913689 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Heavy ground would not have been ideal at Cheltenham 19 days ago but that was his third modest run on the bounce; won off this mark at Stratford last summer but reservations at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Shantou Express

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Five-time hurdle winner; seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces (retained) when very respectable third at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) this month but has become too inconsistent to rely upon.

12/1

3rd

5

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:48 Stratford

Shantou Express

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

5-32 over hurdles (2m-3m2f), including on good to firm; first run back from a break in April was encouraging but he's gone backwards since and has to be forgiven a poor effort latest; on a fair mark if first-time cheekpieces help.

14/1

7th

1

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Shantou Express

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Possible to say he's been temptingly handicapped for a while now, but dropping into a 0-110 here for just the second time; some hope if getting a less contested lead than last time (C&D), which isn't a given.

12/1

Form: 6566-7 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Has won five hurdles on good/good to soft ground; didn't run at all badly over C&D 12 days ago on his stable debut (after an absence) and especially given the conditions; could build on that and he's 4lb lower.
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: /31466

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Second run back from a long absence when winning easily at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in October and followed that with a fair fourth at Aintree; has struggled since (2m4f, heavy; 2m5f, good) and, from out of the weights (James Turner has claimed in four of his last five starts), others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

16th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Worcester

Chance A Tune

11st 3lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

held up in rear, some headway 5th, not fluent 6th, went third before 4 out, chased clear leader when not fluent 3 out

7/2

2

4th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

14:50 Plumpton

Chance A Tune

11st 9lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Dual hurdle winner who got off the mark over fences at the second attempt, keeping on strongly to win readily at Hereford (2m3f, soft) eight days ago; has 7lb penalty to shoulder but still commands respect.

6/4

1st

3

25th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

15:40 Hereford

Chance A Tune

11st 2lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Acts on heavy; below best switched to fences at Ludlow (2m; behind Abingworth) last time but may improve with that experience under his belt; bred to make a chaser and looks nicely treated on hurdles form.

9/2

Verdict

Rare Edition winning at Kempton last weekend shines an even brighter light on Geromino’s game win at Doncaster and the McCain horse should go well again off just 2lb higher on a track that will suit his style of racing. Whether he will be good enough to repel PENTLAND HILLS is another matter, as the Henderson runner made a very pleasing return at that same venue and he has a handy 5lb off his welter burden this time. Luttrell Lad’s Hereford effort can be upgraded and he’s preferred of the others.[Alistair Jones]