February 27 / 15.00 Taunton

15.00

Soft

Richard Williams Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7023.73
  • 2m 5f 150y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
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Richard Williams Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: P-5241

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Back in prime form in first-time cheekpieces at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) 12 days ago, winning easily by 16l; subsequent 8lb rise might have been worse and he'll be a tough nut to crack if the headgear continues to have a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Good Friday Fairy

11st 12lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Resumed with victory at Exeter (2m3f) in November and in good form until pulled up in 2m3f handicap chase at Fontwell ten days ago; this course winner is the sort to bounce back in a change of headgear, though.

9/2

1

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

14:35 Fontwell

Good Friday Fairy

12st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

Did well for cheekpieces going on last year, winning three times at 2m3f-2m5f, latterly off 3lb lower, and going a stone and a half up the weights; 2m7f looked to find him out at Newbury last month and this is less competitive back down in trip; holds decent claims.

5/2

4th

3

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Good Friday Fairy

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

All good since the cheekpieces went on, winning three times (2m3f-2m5f, good to soft/soft); kept on well for third off today's mark at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month and returning to further looks the right move.

13/2

11/4

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 50-613 BF

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Comfortably exploited excellent opportunity in uncompetitive, three-runner novice chase at Exeter (2m3f, good) in November but looked very unenthusiastic before eventually keeping on for modest third in Wincanton handicap (2m4f, good to soft) the following month; needs to race with much more zest in first-time blinkers here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Gyenyame

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

On a losing run but he's proving a consistent sort and came in a good second of eight in 3m1f handicap chase at Wincanton 19 days ago; he's firmly in the picture again off an unchanged mark.

3/1

2nd

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Gyenyame

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Sole win since taking a 2m4f maiden hurdle on this card in 2023 came in a weak three-runner beginners' chase; respected on the form of November's Exeter 0-130 second (3m, good), however, with a tough task at the weights and (latest) desperate ground viable excuses either side of that.

6/1

3rd

2

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Gyenyame

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Seemingly aided by blinkers when runner-up in two Class 4 handicap chases at Taunton (2m5f/2m7f) in February/March but can't be recommended in this company.

20/1

Form: 2-130P D

Last run: 97 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Drew clear to win at Stratford (2m6f, good) in early part of last season but was out of form when last seen in the autumn and would appeal much more on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:18 Ffos Las

The Boola Boss

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Record of 6-17 over fences after doing it comfortably at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) where Buckna was back in third; a likeable type who looks sure to give his running and be heavily involved; 5lb rise is fair.

7/2

1st

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

The Boola Boss

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Rebecca Curtis

Record of 5-16 over fences and he defied today's mark with a 12l win in this race (good) last year; has not seen much action since but he returned after four months off with a creditable fourth at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) last month; should benefit from that run and he's an interesting contender back at this track.

11/4

4th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

The Boola Boss

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

He wasn't in the best form coming into this race last year (good to soft), yet he battled hard for a narrow win and then followed up by 12l at Chepstow (good); only 2lb higher than for the latter win and could very easily stage a revival.

9/1

OUR TIP

11/2

Form: 322-54 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m2f course winner last season; not at best on either outing this term but ran well to a point in stronger race than this at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and is sure to be suited by the return to this track; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead

12/1

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead, lost position and squeezed out 5th, dropped to rear 7th, struggling 9th, jockey looked down to see if something was amiss after 10th, soon eased and pulled up

12/1

4th

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 4

15:00 Taunton

Heros

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Dual 2m2f course winner last season; not at best on either outing this term but ran well to a point in stronger race than this at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and is sure to be suited by the return to this track; might be the answer.

11/2

Form: 18-715 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Appeared to take form to whole new level when making all to score by 16l at Exeter (2m3f, soft) on New Year's Day, his sixth chase success, but managed only fifth over that C&D this month and needs to kick on again to overcome a mark this high.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Flash Gorcombe

11st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Strike-rate of 6-23 over fences; not firing as he can this season but there's time yet and he's well handicapped.

4/1

3rd

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Flash Gorcombe

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Dual winner here (including C&D) who was second in this in 2024; built on seasonal debut when third over C&D (soft) in December but jumped right and disappointed at Exeter last time; contender to bounce back returned to this venue.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.60
Straight Forecast £7.36
Trifecta £30.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Good Friday Fairy

SPOTLIGHT:

Heros

POSTDATA:

Flash Gorcombe

TOPSPEED:

The Boola Boss

Daily Mail:

Gyenyame

WEST COUNTRY:

Good Friday Fairy

The Times:

Good Friday Fairy

The Guardian:

Good Friday Fairy

Daily Mirror:

Good Friday Fairy

The Star:

Good Friday Fairy

Daily Record:

Good Friday Fairy

Telegraph:

Heros

D Express:

Heros