February 20 / 14.10 Taunton

14.10

Heavy

Blundells Preparatory Racing To School Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4832.11
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
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Blundells Preparatory Racing To School Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.70
  • Place: £2.00

Form: -24826

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Came clear with an unexposed winner over 2m4f at Wincanton in November and his defeat back there the following month was on his chase debut; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:47 Fontwell

Chankaya

12st 0lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

A soft-ground hurdle winner off this mark at Taunton last February for previous stable but well held on all starts this season for current connections, latest when pulled up back at Taunton last month; sliding down the weights but doesn't look like capitalising on that anytime soon.

16/1

3

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:05 Taunton

Chankaya

11st 11lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

always behind, pulled up before 2 out

14/1

3

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:05 Taunton

Chankaya

11st 11lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

always behind, pulled up before 2 out

14/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 341326 BF

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won on heavy at Newton Abbot in September (2m1f) and two good runs followed, including a second over C&D; reportedly bled when a disappointing favourite last time; chance if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:18 Ffos Las

Imperial Measure

10st 4lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Inconsistent 7yo who has modest 1-21 strike-rate and needs to rebound from a heavy defeat last month; competes off career-low mark here but needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces.

10/1

5th

11

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

15:47 Fontwell

Imperial Measure

10st 4lb

T: Evan Williams

Inconsistent but wasn't beaten far when third of four at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) and then fell early at Ffos Las (4-1); should be in the mix.

4/1

5

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

14:05 Ffos Las

Imperial Measure

10st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

0-5 over fences and not very consistent but wasn't beaten far when third of four at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) last month and remains on career-low mark for this first venture beyond that trip.

4/1

25/1

  • Place: £7.10

Form: 023-7

Last run: 107 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won four times on the Flat when trained in France and made the frame in two maiden hurdles; however, faded into a remote seventh on handicap debut (2m1f, soft) and stamina could be an issue over this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(6)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Diamand De Vindecy

8st 7lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Robert Bevis

Ran away with a 2m2f handicap here last April; not quite so good since, including when well held back on the Flat at Ripon last month.

14/1

5th

3

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

Diamand De Vindecy

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Robert Bevis

Arrives fit from hurdling and some of his best Flat form last year came in April, winning at Pontefract before second over C&D (both good).

7/1

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Diamand De Vindecy

11st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robert Bevis

Nine-race maiden over hurdles but has placed form and he won six on the Flat; made a bright start over fences in January but didn't fancy it at Huntingdon and refused early; the cheekpieces are off but wouldn't be a surprise to see him run well.

8/1

Form: 7-4896

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Like a few in here, he's performed to a modest standard in novice events but consequently goes handicapping at a realistic level; worth checking in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

18:20 Uttoxeter

Getuptheyard

10st 12lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nigel Hawke

Maiden who fell in consecutive chases last autumn and was tailed off in 3m handicap hurdle on latest outing in November; has something to prove after a layoff; had wind surgery in March.

9/1

2

7th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:07 Huntingdon

Getuptheyard

11st 6lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

0-13 over hurdles but was runner-up three consecutive times in the spring (2m3f-2m7f, good); in contention for a place behind a handicap blot before penultimate-fence fall on last month's chasing debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good); good chance here if his confidence has not been dented.

4/1

Form: 44-54P

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
A 14l fourth in 2m Wincanton handicap (1m7f, heavy) before a puzzling run at Leicester (2m4f); now 8lb lower than for that penultimate run and cheekpieces are added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:17 Chepstow

Mini Yeats

10st 11lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Gave good account when fourth at Taunton (2m, good) in December, his second start for Tim Vaughan, but last month's Ffos Las run was a backward step and he's now 0-13 over hurdles; cheekpieces removed; tongue-tie added.

16/1

8th

22

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Ffos Las

Mini Yeats

10st 5lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Maiden but has hit the frame and was beaten under 5l at Taunton last time (2m, good) when shaping as though a stiffer stamina test was needed.

13/2

8th

22

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Ffos Las

Mini Yeats

10st 5lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Maiden but has hit the frame and was beaten under 5l at Taunton last time (2m, good) when shaping as though a stiffer stamina test was needed.

13/2

Form: 7-7805

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Lasted just two races with Dan Skelton; beaten 17l into fifth on handicap debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) and looks up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

20th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:10 Taunton

Irlandais

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Lasted just two races with Dan Skelton; beaten 17l into fifth on handicap debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) and looks up against it.

12/1

5th

10

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:45 Wincanton

Irlandais

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Lasted just two races with Dan Skelton and has shown nothing in two runs for this yard; goes handicapping with much to prove.

14/1

12th

7

10th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 3

13:45 Exeter

Irlandais

11st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Kayley Woollacott

Didn't last long with Dan Skelton and he was 66-1 when tailed off in a maiden at Wincanton three weeks ago.

100/1

Form: -7P7R8

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Refused to race at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) two runs back and hasn't shown much when she has consented to take part; hood removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 164y

Class 5

16:45 Plumpton

Gardons La

10st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Beginning to look exposed after offering little in six handicaps and refused to race in one of those; others safer.

20/1

11

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 164y

Class 5

16:45 Plumpton

Gardons La

10st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Beginning to look exposed after offering little in six handicaps and refused to race in one of those; others safer.

20/1

7

28th Feb 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:35 Wincanton

Gardons La

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Neil Mulholland

Holds weak claims on bare form and comes with risk having refused to race here in December; however, the combination of drop in trip and Harry Cobden (up for first time) may prompt improvement.

16/1

Form: 79P7

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Probably flattered by proximity to principals when ninth of 14 on hurdle debut over C&D as she's offered little since; goes handicapping with much to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

Form: 0778

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Hard to make a solid case on his modest achievements to date but he now goes handicapping for an in-form yard; market useful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

20th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

King Of The Road

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

Won three races in 2024; inconsistent since but ran well when second at Kempton (2m5f, good) on Boxing Day; two poor runs since but has undergone wind surgery and a first-time tongue-tie replaces cheekpieces; interesting if the market speaks favourably.

11/1

15th

4

27th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:20 Wetherby

King Of The Road

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Soft ground provides an excuse for two defeats of late; sole attempt in cheekpieces resulted in good second at Kempton (2m5f) on penultimate start; could go well in the reapplied headgear.

12/1

9th

1

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:27 Wincanton

King Of The Road

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Surprising to see the cheekpieces left off as they were on for the first time when pushing an improver close at Kempton (2m5f, good; all wins on good to soft); he was 12l clear of the third so a 4lb rise could have been worse; respected.

7/2

Form: 9005

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in all his hurdles but in good hands and there could be improvement lurking now raised in trip for handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

19:27 Newton Abbot

Bruce Gobbler

10st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Kayley Woollacott

Did not take to chasing this spring (two attempts) and now reverts to hurdling; quite well handicapped if judged on his two Taunton runs (2m/2m3f) towards end of last season; not ruled out.

9/1

7

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Worcester

Bruce Gobbler

10st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

2m4f point winner; never really threatened to win over hurdles and the same again on recent chase debut; needs a lift from cheekpieces.

12/1

5

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Bruce Gobbler

10st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

Maiden under rules but he did keep galloping on his final two runs over hurdles, at 2m and 2m3f; pedigree points to improvement over fences.

6/1

13/2

Form: 8-7545

Last run: 182 days

W: 10st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Point winner in May; has performed okay in two of her handicaps but needs more if she's to win this; formerly with Alastair Ralph.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

15

13th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Citizen Jane

10st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Ryan Potter

Soundly beaten on all three starts for new stable this year and now 0-11 over hurdles; not written off just yet but could be considered only if lively in the betting; tongue-tie (worn for last two races) left off.

25/1

Form: 8-3P36 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Point and chase (2m4f, soft) winner; a staying-on third of 14 in a handicap hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) last month but then disappointed favourite backers when sent over 2m4f back there (trip no excuse); certainly a contender on that penultimate piece of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Worcester

Tribesmans Glory

10st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

Won off this mark on good ground at Warwick last May; only effort of note this year was his third at Chepstow in March; others safer.

12/1

5

21st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Warwick

Tribesmans Glory

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Pulled up on heavy ground on two of last three appearances but between those he ran a big race when third on good ground at Chepstow (2m3f); back on a sound surface today and only 2lb higher than when landing this prize in 2024; respected.

10/1

4th

5

21st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Warwick

Tribesmans Glory

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Pulled up on heavy ground on two of last three appearances but between those he ran a big race when third on good ground at Chepstow (2m3f); back on a sound surface today and only 2lb higher than when landing this prize in 2024; respected.

10/1

Non-runners

Russies Dream

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.50
Straight Forecast £16.53
Tricast £274.08
Trifecta £360.90

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

King Of The Road

RP RATINGS:

Chankaya

SPOTLIGHT:

Imperial Measure

The Star:

Irlandais

D Express:

Diamand De Vindecy

POSTDATA:

Tribesmans Glory

The Times:

King Of The Road

Telegraph:

King Of The Road

Daily Mail:

King Of The Road

The Sun:

King Of The Road

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Measure

The Guardian:

Chankaya

Daily Record:

Chankaya