January 17 / 16.20 Taunton

16.20

Good To Soft

3 February Sporting Clubs Raceday Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 5
  • 13 runners
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3 February Sporting Clubs Raceday Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.13
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 65-794

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in all three bumpers last season; unable to land a significant blow in three maiden/novice hurdles this term but caught the eye when keeping on steadily for modest fourth at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) last month and is open to improvement in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Bel Ombre

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

No match for winner when second at Perth (2m4f, good; raced too freely) last month, after a break, but appeared to have quite a bit in hand when winning on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January and can be dangerous if new hood helps him to relax.

11/2

2nd

8

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:10 Perth

Bel Ombre

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Well backed into 85-40 when winning by 3l on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January; 10lb higher for this first run since but the form has worked out well and he could have plenty more left in the tank.

4/1

1st

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:20 Taunton

Bel Ombre

11st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Showed promise in all three bumpers last season; unable to land a significant blow in three maiden/novice hurdles this term but caught the eye when keeping on steadily for modest fourth at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) last month and is open to improvement in handicaps.

11/2

13/8

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 7-0542 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Creditable fourth in 0-130 grade on handicap debut at Windsor (2m, good to soft) in November and bumped into a big improver when second at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) last month; still has potential; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

20:36 Market Rasen

Little Ledgend

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

0-9 under rules; knocking firmly at the door through the winter, collared close home over 2m7f here (soft; third, 15-8 favourite) in February; reappears from a 115-day break from a 2lb higher mark, but with Lewis Saunders claiming a handy 3lb; tongue-tie added and drop back in trip is helpful.

3/1

3rd

7

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:37 Market Rasen

Little Ledgend

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-8 under rules, but placed in both bumpers and runner-up in his last two starts at around 2m3f over hurdles (soft/good to soft); shapes as though this stiffer test should suit (backed up by his pedigree) and much respected.

7/4

10/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 316-U4 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Shaped well when fourth on what was effectively his seasonal debut at Southwell (2m, good to soft) last month and now just 3lb higher than for last season's clearcut win at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft); a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

11th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

17:47 Southwell

Prairie Diamond

11st 9lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Had won a bumper and a handicap, but his all-the-way win at Wincanton last month (2m4f, good) was a career-best and the first-time visor must have been a factor; the handicapper didn't hold back with a 13lb hike but still much respected.

5/2

1st

4

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

16:50 Wincanton

Prairie Diamond

11st 6lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Martin Keighley

Won a bumper on good ground and a handicap hurdle (2m4f) on good to soft; ran right up to his best when third in a Taunton handicap in January but he was disappointing after wind surgery there last month; bit to prove again after that and he needs new headgear to work.

10/1

7th

4

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Prairie Diamond

11st 7lb

J: Mr Harry Hoyles

T: Martin Keighley

Got back on track when third of 13 in C&D handicap in January; this fair 2m4f winner can't be dismissed off the same mark on the back of wind surgery.

3/1

Form: 13502

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Yet to make any significant progress since winning on hurdle debut in September but ran well in defeat here (2m, good) nine days ago and might have some untapped potential over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:24 Worcester

Best Night

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Not one to rely upon that heavily but scored off today's mark at Huntingdon (2m, good) in March and creditable third of 14 at Stratford (2m, good to firm) 11 days ago; features prominently in calculations.

11/4

3rd

2

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:40 Stratford

Best Night

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Dual hurdles winner who returned to form with a second at Warwick (2m, good) 26 days ago, and that was behind a major improver who has won seven in a row since the end of May; on same mark as for that last run and she's a big player if she can back that up.

11/2

2nd

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Warwick

Best Night

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Won at Huntingdon (2m, good) in March but subsequent efforts have lacked the same dash; needs a revival.

14/1

Form: 313-25 C

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Won on fast ground here (2m) last spring and returned to hurdling with respectable Wincanton run (1m7f good) in November but may find today's trip-and-ground combination too taxing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Chester

Taritino

10st 0lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

Has won five on the Flat at up to 1m6f; off the mark for this Flat season when winning at Salisbury by 4.5l 13 days ago; up 6lb but a contender.

6/1

1st

7

(2)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

17:32 Salisbury

Taritino

8st 13lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Joe Tickle

Has won twice over hurdles this year and only went down by a head on his return to Flat action last week at Bath (1m6f, good); effective over this shorter trip and looks a good bet to give his running, which can't be said for all of these.

4/1

Form: 323-55 C

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Mare

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Gained two of her four hurdle wins here; getting long on the tooth now but travelled well for a long way when fifth of 13 over C&D (good to firm) in November and might be better suited by today's slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

16:50 Wincanton

Sawpit Sienna

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

11yo mare who has not won in over two years and was tailed off at Taunton (2m3f, good) last month; others are preferred.

16/1

10th

10

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Sawpit Sienna

10st 2lb

J: Miss Clara Brewitt

T: Samuel Drinkwater

A dual course scorer but this veteran mare came in last of five in 2m Lingfield handicap last month; others are preferred.

16/1

5th

6

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:35 Lingfield

Sawpit Sienna

10st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Not lasting out over longer trips this term, so return to 2m makes sense, but it's over five years since she was last able to win outside mares-only company; 6lb out of the weights.

16/1

Form: 1-2P6P

Last run: 58 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won on hurdling debut in France last April but was soundly beaten in both British handicaps in the autumn (2m/1m7f); wore cheekpieces last time; moves up in trip and tries blinkers here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:16 Worcester

Mancero

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Opened British account under strong ride over C&D (good) in May and has obvious claims if judged on that performance but already looked beaten when badly hampered at third-last hurdle at Market Rasen last month and needs to bounce back.

10/1

8

19th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:30 Market Rasen

Mancero

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

First success since his French debut when winning going away at Worcester last month (2m4f, good), albeit needing getting after on the way round; new 6lb higher mark is some way in excess of any RPR ever run to.

6/1

1st

10

28th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Mancero

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: David Pipe

French hurdles winner; looks handicapped about right on recent exploits but entitled to be thereabouts once more off his light weight and with Sean Bowen booked.

9/2

Form: 82-202 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Battled on well for modest second in Leicester seller (2m4f, soft) last month, his second start for Fergal O'Brien, but will need a better performance on this handicap return and is evidently not as good as he was.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Bigz Belief

10st 4lb

J: Tpr Elizabeth Feakes

T: Fergal O’Brien

Best of three hurdle runs for new stable this season when second of five in soft-ground Leicester seller (2m4f) in December; reverts to this code after going close off his basement Flat mark three weeks ago but others have more compelling claims; first ride under rules for Elizabeth Feakes.

6/1

2nd

8

(2)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

8st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

This season's hurdling form for Fergal O'Brien was uninspiring and he was safely held when fourth in C&D classified race on Flat return in January; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

4th

1

(6)

26th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Triple hurdle winner but his last success was in 2023 and he was well held at Taunton last Saturday; now returns to the Flat for the first time in 16 months and he's 1-24 in this sphere; opposable.

12/1

33/1

Form: 93P3P0

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Belied 40-1 odds when placed at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in November but two lesser efforts have followed and he's now 0-17.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

19th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:15 Newton Abbot

Saucats

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Joe Tickle

Off the mark at the 25th attempt with a comfortable C&D success this month and similar form in defeat last week off this 3lb higher mark; in the mix.

100/30

2nd

7

13th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

15:42 Newton Abbot

Saucats

11st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Off the mark at the 25th attempt with a comfortable C&D success ten days ago; a 3lb rise looks fair and a repeat would make him a major player, though his overall profile remains patchy.

11/2

1st

7

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Saucats

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

0-24; went close in this new headgear combination here in May but he's back on the slippery slope and out of the weights this time.

14/1

Form: P-P9P0

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Went close in a maiden point last spring but has not shown any worthwhile form under rules since (including two handicap runs).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:20 Taunton

Absolut Grey

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: D Summersby

Went close in a maiden point last spring but has not shown any worthwhile form under rules since (including two handicap runs).

66/1

8

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:17 Worcester

Absolut Grey

11st 1lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Modest point form, though he nearly won his final start in April; pulled up over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good; 66-1) last month and easy to look elsewhere.

100/1

5

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Absolut Grey

10st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Nothing to show from two hurdle runs in France and modest point form earlier this year, for all that he nearly won his final one; very opposable.

50/1

Form: /566-4 D

Last run: 72 days

W: 10st 10lb

12 yo Mare

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Veteran who had poor completion record in points last season and was easily brushed aside after making the running on rules return at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in November; revival needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:20 Taunton

Cotton End

10st 10lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Jackie Du Plessis

Veteran who had poor completion record in points last season and was easily brushed aside after making the running on rules return at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in November; revival needed.

33/1

6th

8

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 5

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Cotton End

10st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

pressed leader

12/1

6th

5

30th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:40 Warwick

Cotton End

11st 8lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Sheila Lewis

Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m3f; acts on a sound surface; 0-11 over fences; below par on her recent reappearance but not ruled out each-way if she comes on for that.

10/1

Form: 02/1PP

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Returned from 903-day absence with win at Ffos Las (3m, good; heavily backed) in May but was much weaker in the betting when pulled up over 2m4f on consecutive appearances in the autumn; perhaps the market will again provide a good guide here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

8

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:20 Taunton

Lucky Bounce

11st 0lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Returned from 903-day absence with win at Ffos Las (3m, good; heavily backed) in May but was much weaker in the betting when pulled up over 2m4f on consecutive appearances in the autumn; perhaps the market will again provide a good guide here.

25/1

10

22nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Worcester

Lucky Bounce

10st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ryan Potter

Backed into favouritism when defying a mammoth absence to make all at Ffos Las (3m, good) in May; this unexposed 8yo may be able to take a 6lb rise in his stride; interesting to see if there's similar market confidence.

5/1

2

22nd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:40 Ffos Las

Lucky Bounce

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ryan Potter

Returns from a mammoth absence but only narrowly failed to justify strong market support in a 2m7f handicap at Market Rasen when last seen; returns off 1lb lower; the market could be instructive.

5/1

Form: PU-PPP CD

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Mare

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D in 2021 but has not completed a race since spring 2024 and cannot be recommended from 8lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

16:10 Exeter

Poets Reflection

10st 2lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Linda Blackford

1-34 overall and 0-10 as a chaser; has been in poor form for a while (hurdling most recently) and couldn't entertain from 11lb out of the weights.

66/1

7th

10

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Poets Reflection

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Linda Blackford

Sole win (33 races) was on good ground here but in 2021; results over the last year have been pretty grim (latest in first-time cheekpieces) and she's now 6lb out of the handicap; unraced beyond an extended 2m5f.

50/1

Non-runners

Good For You

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.90
Straight Forecast £6.69
Tricast £18.23
Trifecta £35.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Little Ledgend

The Times:

Prairie Diamond

RP RATINGS:

Bigz Belief

Telegraph:

Little Ledgend

Daily Mail:

Little Ledgend

D Express:

Little Ledgend

Daily Mirror:

Little Ledgend

Daily Record:

Little Ledgend

The Guardian:

Prairie Diamond

The Sun:

Prairie Diamond

POSTDATA:

Bigz Belief

The Star:

Bigz Belief