December 30 / 15.27 Taunton

15.27

Good To Soft

In The Mix Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5967.53
  • 3m 2f 57y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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In The Mix Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 22-321 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Largely consistent since switched to fences last autumn and drew 15l clear to open account at Wincanton (3m2f, soft) this month; went up 8lb for that but ought to make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Caeruleum

11st 1lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Has found improvement from somewhere to win back-to-back 3m2f handicaps with seemingly lots to spare, on soft and good to soft; raised in grade here and hit with 10lb for last time, but this 7yo looks firmly on the upgrade.

13/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 286353 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Plugged on for modest third in big-field handicap hurdle at Exeter (2m5f, good to soft) 11 days ago and reverts to fences on a workable mark but has lacked fluency in some of his previous chases and needs to get into a better rhythm today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Unspeakable

11st 1lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Battled well for narrow win off today's mark at Hereford (3m1f, good; wore cheekpieces) in the autumn but was given break after disappointing effort in December and again ran poorly when reappearing (without cheekpieces) last month; the cheekpieces are missing again here; stablemate Prince Cleni has much stronger claims.

10/1

6th

6

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Unspeakable

10st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Landed his second success over fences, at Hereford (3m1f, good) in October off 1lb lower mark; second at Plumpton the following month but was tailed off at Wincanton when last seen; has been freshened up since and holds claims if putting his best foot forward.

9/2

3

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

16:00 Exeter

Unspeakable

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Dug deep to win over fences last week at Hereford (3m1f, good) and gets in here over hurdles off the same mark; clear claims.

100/30

10/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 2-3562

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Never looked dangerous before keeping on for modest second at Ludlow (3m, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last month but remains unexposed over fences and is well handicapped on some of his hurdling form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:50 Ffos Las

Blackacre

11st 4lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

In a new visor he won two 3m2f handicap chases at Newton Abbot last August; has looked too high in the weights since then and he's 0-11 as a hurdler; others preferred.

8/1

4

13th Apr 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

16:10 Fakenham

Blackacre

10st 6lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Won twice in a visor at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good/good to soft) last summer; untested beyond that trip and absent since respectable second of three in the autumn (without headgear, as today) but current mark is workable if he's fully tuned up.

6/1

4

20th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

16:42 Plumpton

Blackacre

10st 2lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Evan Williams

Struck form in new visor in August, winning twice at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good/good to soft) by clear margins, but suffered big dip in form on next two outings and was unable to land a telling blow when fourth in refitted cheekpieces at Newton Abbot on Saturday (albeit not beaten far in the end); no headgear today.

4/1

Form: 72PP-5

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Ended last season in poor form but travelled well for a long way on reappearance outing a fortnight ago and is now 3lb lower than when going close in this race last year (good to soft); interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

13:53 Fontwell

Unblinking

11st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robert Bevis

Went close over C&D in May but has become rather unreliable and latest third here was quite remote; still needs respecting in this bad a race.

2/1

2

7th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:12 Fontwell

Unblinking

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Robert Bevis

Stayed on from the rear to go close off today's mark over C&D (good) in May but has poor strike-rate in recent years and is unreliable nowadays; chance probably depends upon what mood he's in.

8/1

6

25th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 5

14:37 Uttoxeter

Unblinking

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Robert Bevis

Veteran who was beaten just a neck when last seen at Fontwell (3m2f, good) in May, but he isn't very consistent and has a moderate strike-rate; others preferred.

8/1

Form: -322U3 BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Placed three times over fences this season and has conditions to suit here but was a disappointing favourite on latest appearance six weeks ago and is now 0-15 under rules; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Getupearly

10st 8lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Winning pointer; 18 defeats under rules equally divided between hurdles and fences; however, accepted the new cheekpieces when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last time and that run offers hope.

4/1

5th

4

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Getupearly

10st 8lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Winning pointer; 18 defeats under rules equally divided between hurdles and fences; however, accepted the new cheekpieces when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last time and that run offers hope.

4/1

2nd

5

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

18:38 Huntingdon

Getupearly

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Winning pointer who is 0-17 under rules and 0-8 as a chaser; he does have placed form in this discipline but his last three efforts have been well below his best, the latest after wind surgery; bit risky with cheekpieces turned to.

2/1

Form: P72113 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner this autumn; did it a bit more cosily than neck margin success here (2m7f, good to firm) on latter occasion and subsequent lesser effort on soft ground should not be viewed harshly; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

School For Scandal

10st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tickle

Two more chase wins in 2025, the latest at Windsor (3m, good to soft; suited by good) in November; often battled with unsuitable ground over the winter but 4lb lower than at Windsor so has a weights chance.

10/1

3rd

7

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

School For Scandal

10st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground.

12/1

5

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

School For Scandal

10st 10lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

2lb below his Windsor success in November but he's not matched that level since, latest when well held at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month; needs the return to better ground to spark a revival.

25/1

Form: -4P844 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when fourth in Fakenham marathon (3m5f, good to soft; form well short of his best) eight days ago and remains well handicapped on old form; others look stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Marettimo

10st 8lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Returned from long absence with fairly encouraging run at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) in October but has looked out of sorts since and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

33/1

Form: -U5637

Last run: 162 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
0-19 under rules; placed twice over fences here last season (2m2f/2m5f) and is unexposed over this sort of trip but we haven't seen her since a below-par hurdle run in July.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

20th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

17:17 Newton Abbot

Sevenofus

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Carroll Gray

0-16 under rules (including eight chase runs) but came second over hurdles here (2m5f, good) in April and also ran very well in eventful C&D chase won by Ryder's Rock in May; 5lb wrong today but not out of this if last month's wind op makes any positive difference.

10/1

3rd

6

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:18 Newton Abbot

Sevenofus

10st 12lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Carroll Gray

Twice placed over fences (0-7) and twice runner-up over hurdles this year; latest run wasn't her best (also over hurdles) but she goes on all ground and the form is there to feature.

8/1

3rd

6

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:18 Newton Abbot

Sevenofus

10st 12lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Carroll Gray

Twice placed over fences (0-7) and twice runner-up over hurdles this year; latest run wasn't her best (also over hurdles) but she goes on all ground and the form is there to feature.

8/1

Form: -49124

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 5yo who made winning chase/handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time cheekpieces) in October and ran well in defeat at Warwick (3m1f, good; no headgear) last month; below form when last in action but has cheekpieces refitted and remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Touchwoodexpress

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Absent since two below-par runs in November but returned from a break to win five-runner contest at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in September, and is now back on the same mark; seems best on good ground but once won a point on soft; can't be ruled out.

11/1

4

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

15:37 Ludlow

Touchwoodexpress

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Achieved more on RPRs for his Newton Abbot 3m2f class 5 win last time (good) than Arctic Angel did for hers, despite bleeding from the nose; up just 2lb and he's hugely unexposed as a handicap hurdler.

2/1

4

29th Sep 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:41 Newton Abbot

Touchwoodexpress

11st 4lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from break to make winning chase/handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time cheekpieces) last autumn; absent since falling on consecutive outings during the winter but still enters calculations on this handicap hurdle debut.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 7-3354

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Began chasing career with two pretty good thirds in October (3m/3m1f, good) and is now 2lb lower but two slightly disappointing efforts have followed and he needs a boost from the new cheekpieces here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:20 Stratford

Ballynaheer

11st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Dennis

Landed his fourth win over fences, at Market Rasen (3m, good) last month but below his best at Fontwell since; is the type to bounce back and he should get the trip (has won over 3m2f).

5/1

5th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:45 Fontwell

Ballynaheer

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: David Dennis

Progressive 7yo who has form figures of 1221141 over fences since September; only two completed when he scored at Market Rasen (3m, good) 19 days ago but he still looks on a workable mark and his first chase win was over C&D; strongly respected.

7/2

1st

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:23 Market Rasen

Ballynaheer

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David Dennis

In excellent form on good ground in the autumn, winning three times over fences (3m1f-3m2f); well behind Dangerous Touch when reappearing in four-runner race at Huntingdon last month but might have needed that outing and his usual cheekpieces are refitted here.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.30
Straight Forecast £14.15
Tricast £55.71
Trifecta £77.80

Selections

The Guardian:

School For Scandal

RP RATINGS:

Touchwoodexpress

Telegraph:

Blackacre

Daily Mail:

Caeruleum

The Times:

Unspeakable

WEST COUNTRY:

Getupearly

D Express:

Sevenofus

SPOTLIGHT:

Unblinking

POSTDATA:

Touchwoodexpress

Daily Record:

Blackacre

Daily Mirror:

Caeruleum

The Star:

School For Scandal