January 18 / 14.40 Taunton

14.40

Good To Soft

Samaritans Of Taunton And Somerset Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6495.63
  • 2m 0f 12y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Samaritans Of Taunton And Somerset Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 1231-4 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner on good ground in early part of last season and, following a long absence, ran well for a long way at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) last month; back down to a good mark and goes on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

15:30 Exeter

First Angel

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Campaigned mostly at about 2m; doing well (3-6) for current yard but has stamina to prove back up in trip and wellbeing to prove on return from 14-month layoff.

7/2

25/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: P6-31P C

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Doubled chasing tally with 20-1 success here (2m2f, good to soft) in November but was pulled up on next outing and is 8lb wrong today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

My Rockstar

10st 3lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Helen Rees

Record of 2-16 over fences; beaten about 11l in two 2m4f handicaps here since an absence and there are positives to take out of both those runs; this drop back in trip could help.

7/1

5th

7

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

My Rockstar

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Helen Rees

10yo who has won twice over fences but he faded into a well-held fourth behind Universal Secret over C&D in February; 3lb out of the weights in this rematch and he has work to do to turn the tables.

16/1

4th

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

My Rockstar

10st 7lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Helen Rees

C&D (good) winner in April 2023 who also popped up at Taunton (2m2f, good to soft) in November 2024 following a 182-day break; just four starts since have included two solid efforts and it's possible he can have a say back from a 331-day absence; has a query on soft ground, however.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-2325 D BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Needs to rebound from a disappointing run in November but was in good form beforehand, including when second on chasing debut at Southwell (2m4f, good) two starts ago; can cope with today's drop back in trip; big player if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

7th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

15:37 Huntingdon

Davidoc

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

0-8 over fences for Ben Pauling and seemingly a tricky horse to win with but scores good marks for his consistency and 2m4f on good ground suits him well; sports first-time hood on stable debut (same owners); probably won't be far away.

11/2

2nd

3

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:05 Worcester

Davidoc

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Winning hurdler who is 0-7 over fences but has been running well in defeat at up to 2m6f; must have every chance; cheekpieces tried last time are now dispensed with.

5/2

5

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Davidoc

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

0-6 over fences but has twice run well in defeat over 2m4f at Warwick (good) this spring, latterly behind A Dublin Job; moves up in trip and sports first-time cheekpieces here; major player.

9/4

Form: 25/3-4

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Three-time chase winner (2m3f-2m4f); returned from long absence with very encouraging run at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) last month, travelling strongly before weakening in the home straight; will presumably be ridden positively over this shorter trip and could be very dangerous if that recent outing did him good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

10th Feb 2025

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 5

15:30 Catterick

Yggdrasil

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: David Pipe

Winless since 2022 and he beat only one in 2m Taunton handicap chase 23 days ago on his second run after a long absence; has a bit to prove now.

13/2

4th

1

10th Feb 2025

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 5

15:30 Catterick

Yggdrasil

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: David Pipe

Winless since 2022 and he beat only one in 2m Taunton handicap chase 23 days ago on his second run after a long absence; has a bit to prove now.

13/2

5th

3

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 4

14:40 Taunton

Yggdrasil

11st 12lb

J: David Noonan

T: David Pipe

jumped left on occasions, prominent, lost ground before 3rd, not fluent 5th, struggling from 7th

11/4

Form: 6-8533 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Took step back in right direction when keeping on for very respectable third at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) last month but there are no guarantees this regressive 11yo will build on that performance today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 25-5F4 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Behind Fast Buck when a fading fourth at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) last month but arguably emerges from that race with greater credit, having suffered some misfortune; current mark is workable and he won over hurdles on his only previous visit to Taunton; impossible to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

8

25th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

15:35 Taunton

Force De Frap

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

held up in rear, no impression from 4 out

20/1

6

26th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Force De Frap

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

prominent, weakened after 2 out (usual 3 out), pulled up before last

25/1

5

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 4

14:40 Taunton

Force De Frap

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

jumped left throughout, always behind, bad mistake 2nd, pulled up after 4 out

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.30
Straight Forecast £23.89
Trifecta £135.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Yggdrasil

RP RATINGS:

Fast Buck

Daily Mail:

First Angel

D Express:

Force De Frap

The Times:

Yggdrasil

Telegraph:

Yggdrasil

The Guardian:

Yggdrasil

The Sun:

First Angel

The Star:

First Angel

POSTDATA:

Fast Buck

Daily Mirror:

Fast Buck

Daily Record:

Fast Buck