April 24 / 19.00 Taunton

19.00

Good

Dave Criddle Travel Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £6073.15
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Dave Criddle Travel Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: -32342

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Still a maiden but has run a few good races in handicaps (1m7f-3m1f) and, although well beaten in a maiden last month, the winner went in again last weekend; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Bertie Wooster

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-24, the win coming over this far as a hurdler nearly two years ago; however, twice runner-up over fences this season (2m7f) and capable of going well.

13/2

3rd

1

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:40 Plumpton

Bertie Wooster

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-6 and generally disappointing during first season over fences, signing off with a poor performance in April; returns from six-month break on a good mark, though, and last month's wind op could quite plausibly aid a return to form; cheekpieces (worn for last three runs) discarded.

5/2

5/2

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 13 C BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three of his five Flat races; won easily on good to soft ground here in December and not hard to forgive him his Stratford defeat on heavy; this initial mark might be okay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:10 Newton Abbot

Swift Hawk

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Fair Flat maiden who got off the mark on stable/hurdle debut at Taunton (2m, good to soft) in December and made a solid start to handicaps this year, going close at Taunton then comfortably accounting for a warm favourite at Hereford (2m, good) last month; in a deeper race here but he's an improving 4yo and the 5lb rise might not be enough to anchor him.

7/4

1st

3

13th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

16:35 Hereford

Swift Hawk

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Fair Flat-racer who won comfortably on stable/hurdle debut at Taunton (2m, good to soft) in December and went close when upped to 2m3f there (good) for recent handicap hurdle debut; went up 4lb for that and probably won't be favoured by rain here but still features prominently in calculations.

11/8

3

13th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

16:35 Hereford

Swift Hawk

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Fair Flat-racer who won comfortably on stable/hurdle debut at Taunton (2m, good to soft) in December and went close when upped to 2m3f there (good) for recent handicap hurdle debut; went up 4lb for that and probably won't be favoured by rain here but still features prominently in calculations.

11/8

6/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 1-753

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Junior hurdle winner on soft but the ground was heavy when well held on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m); retains potential for her respected yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

18:35 Uttoxeter

Bella Civena

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

1-5 over hurdles for Harry Derham; signed off for him with pretty good third in Taunton handicap (2m3f, good; also has form on soft) but makes debut for new stable after 505-day absence.

8/1

3rd

6

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Bella Civena

11st 7lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

midfield, outpaced and dropped to rear after 7th, headway after 3 out, went third 2 out, hung left and no extra final 110yds

6/1

3rd

6

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Bella Civena

11st 7lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Junior hurdle winner on soft but the ground was heavy when well held on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m); retains potential for her respected yard.

6/1

Form: 2-6212 CD

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
His mark has taken a hit for his recent consistency, latterly finishing second of 16 in a good-ground C&D handicap in early February for which he went up another 3lb; should be thereabouts nonetheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Stanley Pincombe

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Placed off 13lb higher over C&D (good to soft) on seasonal debut in September but ended 2024 with some lesser efforts and he was tailed off after a 102-day break here last month; first-time visor swiftly ditched.

12/1

5

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Stanley Pincombe

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Placed off 13lb higher over C&D (good to soft) on seasonal debut in September but ended 2024 with some lesser efforts and he was tailed off after a 102-day break here last month; first-time visor swiftly ditched.

12/1

7th

3

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

14:50 Fontwell

Stanley Pincombe

11st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

prominent

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4/FP1P

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; two non-completions over fences for this yard before springing a 50-1 surprise in a 2m5f handicap hurdle on soft ground at Wincanton (4lb lower; under Martin McIntyre); heavy ground perhaps a factor in his no-show at Exeter.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:35 Worcester

Behind The Curtain

11st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

prominent, weakened after 3 out

10/1

1

5th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:10 Newton Abbot

Behind The Curtain

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Can be hit and miss but he made pretty much all the running to beat five rivals in latest hurdle start at Hereford (3m1f, good) 12 days ago; off the same mark here but has not looked a natural chaser in two previous attempts.

5/1

1st

4

24th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

17:55 Hereford

Behind The Curtain

11st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Ex-Irish 10yo; has very mixed record since returning from mammoth absence in the autumn but caused 50-1 surprise when reverted to hurdling at Wincanton (2m5f, soft) in March and was back in good form when close second over C&D (good) 11 days ago; obvious contender if in the right mood.

11/4

Form: 305762 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Overall strike-rate of 1-32 but his win came off an 11lb higher mark early last year (2m3f, good) and the new visor triggered a return to form at Huntingdon (2m4f, good); has to be of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

9th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

13:50 Huntingdon

Lifetime Legend

10st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

in touch with leaders

20/1

13

9th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

13:50 Huntingdon

Lifetime Legend

10st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

in touch with leaders

20/1

3/1

Form: 4-8053 BF

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who shaped well when fifth of 16 in a Newbury maiden and that form has worked out; had a wind op afterwards and reportedly unsuited by the tacky surface when well beaten at evens on his handicap debut (first-time tongue-tie now discarded); can be given another chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

5th Dec 2024

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

14:25 Leicester

Samazul

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

held up in rear, no impression before 4 out

7/4

Form: -35734 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner on good and good to soft; yet to threaten in handicaps, though hasn't looked happy on testing ground and his Exeter run last time wasn't too bad all things considered; has dropped to a dangerous mark and a tongue-tie is now fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Despereaux

11st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Five-time hurdle winner who ended last year with a brave success at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft); well held there in both runs this spring but he got involved in a battle up front last time; a player if he can get back near his best.

13/2

5th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

15:20 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Jane Williams

Steadily worked his way back to form this season, culminating in a narrow win over C&D (good to soft; 5lb higher today) in December under 7lb claimer; reverted to a lesser show 19 days ago but perhaps he needed that run after more than three months off.

3/1

5th

4

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Had been struggling but has steadily got himself back on track and prevailed narrowly over C&D in December on latest appearance; 6lb higher for this and connections claimed another 7lb last time through Isabelle Ryder, but he had dropped to a fair mark anyway.

2/1

Form: 4/5-P6 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
The winner of four races over hurdles but has been well below that level in two runs after an absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:55 Ffos Las

Beau Haze

10st 6lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Phillip Dando

in touch with leaders on inner

66/1

9

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:55 Ffos Las

Beau Haze

10st 6lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Phillip Dando

in touch with leaders on inner

66/1

9th

10

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Beau Haze

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Phillip Dando

pressed leaders, lost position after 5th, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out

50/1

Form: 3P-136 D

Last run: 131 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
On the last time he encountered good ground he won comfortably over this far at Huntingdon (7lb lower); could still have run better than he did on good to soft last time at Doncaster but had a break since then and he's of definite interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

14:57 Uttoxeter

Mikhailovich

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Came from poor position to win by 7l on chasing debut at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) in June 2024 and returned from long absence with good second over hurdles at Worcester (2m7f, good) in August, where he travelled much more sweetly; it's hard to tell what mood he'll be in here but he could still have significant potential over fences.

7/2

1

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:55 Worcester

Mikhailovich

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Won a handicap over hurdles and won going away on chase debut at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) 14 months ago; on a competitive mark but likely best watched on this return to hurdling after his absence.

8/1

1st

5

14th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 4

18:25 Market Rasen

Mikhailovich

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Kim Bailey

Easy Huntingdon winner (2m3f, Class 5 handicap hurdle) last October and placed off a higher mark here next time; however, his last two efforts have been below-par, pulling-up at Taunton two months ago; switches to fences with enough to prove at present.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.10
Straight Forecast £21.76
Tricast £110.14
Trifecta £185.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Swift Hawk

The Times:

Bella Civena

D Express:

Samazul

Daily Mail:

Stanley Pincombe

SPOTLIGHT:

Despereaux

WEST COUNTRY:

Bertie Wooster

TOPSPEED:

Swift Hawk

POSTDATA:

Swift Hawk

The Guardian:

Swift Hawk

The Sun:

Swift Hawk

Daily Record:

Swift Hawk

Telegraph:

Bella Civena

The Star:

Samazul

Daily Mirror:

Stanley Pincombe