December 30 / 12.45 Taunton

12.45

Good To Soft

Stables Business Park Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4955.32
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Stables Business Park Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

20/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.90
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /456-7

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Held his own in some good-quality bumpers last season and has claims here if judged on those exploits but his hurdling debut at Exeter (2m, soft) this month was disappointing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

U Cant Be Serious

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made an excellent start over fences when landing a pair of 2m3f handicap chases at Exeter before Christmas but his form has really dipped, only seventh at Newbury (2m7f) last month; cheekpieces are reached for now.

8/1

7th

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

U Cant Be Serious

11st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Joe Tizzard

Showed a willing attitude to kick off his chasing career with two 2m3f handicap wins at Exeter (good to soft) and his Kempton run off this mark on Boxing Day looked too bad to be true; however, even if back on song, others may have his measure.

9/1

3rd

1

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 69y

Class 4

13:55 Newbury

U Cant Be Serious

12st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Handicap debutant; seemingly outstayed over 2m5f last time but may not be crying out for this drop back to 2m, having gained his Taunton win over 2m3f; testing ground would be a possible help, however.

11/4

11/10

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 12-61 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Disappointed on hurdling debut in October but delivered on last season's bumper promise when keeping on well to win here (2m, good to soft) last month, despite lacking fluency over some of the flights; ought to be suited by today's longer trip; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

17:25 Taunton

Jackpot Des Bordes

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, not fluent 6th, lost second 3 out, soon struggling, went second before 2 out, kept on but no match for winner

10/11

2nd

2

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

17:25 Taunton

Jackpot Des Bordes

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, not fluent 6th, lost second 3 out, soon struggling, went second before 2 out, kept on but no match for winner

10/11

4th

9

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 183y

Class 3

14:05 Newbury

Jackpot Des Bordes

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won a good-ground bumper in November last season and a novice at Taunton (2m, good to soft) one year later on his second start over hurdles; turned over when 4-6 back at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in December but he mostly jumped better and it was creditable form; needs extra for this handicap debut but early days and he has first-time cheekpieces.

9/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 1-4

Last run: 229 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Quickened best to win four-runner Chepstow bumper (heavy ground) on debut in March and made quite promising hurdle debut whe fourth at 14 at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) in May; holds each-way claims at least if ready to roll after 229-day absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

Devon Dude

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Mrs C Williams

Disappointing over fences this season (four attempts) and never really recovered from bad, first-flight error when back over hurdles last month; on dangerous mark for this first venture beyond about 2m6f, though, and has first-time cheekpieces and Harry Cobden enlisted; interesting.

14/1

2

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 5

16:10 Hereford

Devon Dude

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Evan Williams

Bumper winner who looked a promising hurdler last season when runner-up three times; hasn't taken to chasing this term and now switches back to hurdles; Harry Cobden looks to be a notable booking.

7/1

7th

2

20th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

15:32 Leicester

Devon Dude

11st 13lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Three good runs in maiden hurdles at up to 2m4f last spring but he's fallen, been pulled up and finished remote in three chase runs this winter; big turnaround needed for the step up in trip.

25/1

Form: 620-67

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; came second in a soft-ground course bumper in February but has shown only minor promise in her two hurdle races this season (2m5f/2m).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

17:42 Ffos Las

Calli Black

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: David Weston

Won readily at Worcester (2m4f, good) last spring and is still lightly raced over fences but her subsequent three runs (latest was over hurdles) were disappointing and she's 2lb wrong on first outing since December.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept on from the rear to finish second in 2m3f maiden point for Tom Ellis in February 2023; makes rules debut after a long absence but it will be interesting to see what Ben Pauling can do with him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

15:45 Uttoxeter

Bank On Frank

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

0-6 over hurdles but he made it second time lucky over fences when justifying favouritism after a break at Southwell (3m, soft) last month; up 10lb but that was a dominant display and he could have a lot to more to offer as a stayer in this sphere.

2/1

1st

1

18th Feb 2026

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:20 Southwell

Bank On Frank

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Point runner-up for Tom Ellis; stepped up on his hurdles form when a rallying second at Fontwell (about 2m5f, good to soft) on his chase debut in November; subsequent absence is a small concern but there's likely more to come from him, with this extra distance a positive.

7/4

100/30

Form: 5

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to an Italian Grade 2 jumps winner; represents a top stable but made just a mildly encouraging debut when fifth of eight in good-ground Wincanton bumper in October and needs significant improvement here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

15:37 Ludlow

Katana

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Robert Stephens

Spring and summer's clutch of frame finishes were gained around far more galloping tracks over 2m-2m4f; wheels have really come off since, and hard to be confident the return to a stayers' trip will arrest the decline.

16/1

3

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Ffos Las

Katana

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Robert Stephens

Runner-up on handicap debut for Nicky Henderson at Worcester (2m, good) in May and pulled well clear of the third when filling same position in maiden over that C&D for new stable in June but has suffered a worrying slump in form since; needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces here.

14/1

4

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Katana

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Robert Stephens

Ex-Nicky Henderson was was runner-up a couple of times in the summer but has been pulled up on his last two starts and is hard to fancy until he shows more.

14/1

Form: 643-6

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Close third in what has turned out to be a fairly good course bumper in April (soft ground) but never really looked dangerous when sixth here (2m, good) on recent hurdling debut; needs that recent run to have brought him on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

7th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:37 Huntingdon

Chedingtons Guest

11st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

Close third in a bumper in April 2024; showed nothing more than minor promise in three novice/maiden hurdles (2m-2m3f) but moves up in trip for this handicap debut and is a possible improver.

10/1

1

7th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:42 Fontwell

Chedingtons Guest

11st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

Displayed improvement when close third in soft-ground Taunton bumper in April 2024 but both hurdle runs there (2m/2m3f) towards end of last year were very underwhelming; back from 251-day break here; tongue-tie on.

14/1

7th

4

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

12:45 Taunton

Chedingtons Guest

11st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Keiran Burke

Close third in what has turned out to be a fairly good course bumper in April (soft ground) but never really looked dangerous when sixth here (2m, good) on recent hurdling debut; needs that recent run to have brought him on.

20/1

Form: 956

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Five-time Flat winner in France/Spain but has not been competitive in three British maiden/novice hurdles this season and will probably be of greater interest if/when the handicapper sees fit to give her a mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

15:08 Newton Abbot

Kenmya

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

A fair 1m2f Flat winner in Spain who was much improved for her current yard when runner-up in 2m4f Bangor handicap hurdle 47 days ago; up 2lb but big shout with that form working out very well.

3/1

2nd

6

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Kenmya

10st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Five Flat wins in France; showed very little over hurdles in Britain last season, including when dropped back to 2m for last month's handicap debut, but Dan Skelton is persisting with her and she can't be written off just yet.

6/1

2nd

6

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Kenmya

10st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Five Flat wins in France; showed very little over hurdles in Britain last season, including when dropped back to 2m for last month's handicap debut, but Dan Skelton is persisting with her and she can't be written off just yet.

6/1

Form: 6-0

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on bumper debut in April and also struggled when 150-1 for 2m novice hurdle here this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

14:25 Plumpton

Steel Dancer

10st 11lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

midfield, bad mistake 1st, soon lost ground, in rear and struggling before 10th, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

9

11th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

14:25 Plumpton

Steel Dancer

10st 11lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

midfield, bad mistake 1st, soon lost ground, in rear and struggling before 10th, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:50 Plumpton

Steel Dancer

11st 3lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Very little to latch on to so far, in a bumper and three qualifying events; handicaps should offer more scope, especially if fitting a tongue-tie helps.

7/1

Form: P

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Struggled to get competitive when a big-priced outsider for last month's debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft); now hooded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:50 Ffos Las

Alderley Charlie

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Polly Gundry

Form figures of PFPP over fences and, with a tongue-tie added, he never counted on his return to hurdles at Exeter; opposable.

50/1

10th

13

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Alderley Charlie

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Polly Gundry

He'll be glad to see the back of fences after producing form figures of PFPP, not that a case can be made on hurdle exploits; tongue-tie added.

66/1

12

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Alderley Charlie

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Polly Gundry

Nine-race maiden with form-figures of PFP since switched to chasing in December; 6lb wrong today; can't be recommended.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.50
Straight Forecast £9.34
Trifecta £43.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jackpot Des Bordes

LAMBOURN:

Katana

D Express:

Devon Dude

Telegraph:

Katana

The Sun:

Katana

The Star:

Devon Dude

Daily Record:

Devon Dude

RP RATINGS:

Jackpot Des Bordes

POSTDATA:

Jackpot Des Bordes

WEST COUNTRY:

Jackpot Des Bordes

The Times:

Jackpot Des Bordes

The Guardian:

Jackpot Des Bordes

Daily Mail:

Jackpot Des Bordes

Daily Mirror:

Jackpot Des Bordes