February 03 / 16.15 Taunton

16.15

Heavy

24 March Behind The Scenes Raceday Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5967.53
  • 2m 2f 40y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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24 March Behind The Scenes Raceday Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 555d-5

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won this race readily (soft ground) on chasing debut at year ago, only to be disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance; made low-key reappearance on good ground here in December but still features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:20 Leicester

Palawan Du Mazet

11st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Alan Jones

First past the post in the same novice handicap at Taunton (2m2f, soft/heavy) in two of his three chase attempts, last time comfortably making amends for being disqualified a year earlier (banned substance found in sample); may have more to offer over fences; shortlisted.

6/4

1st

7

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Palawan Du Mazet

10st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Alan Jones

Won this race readily (soft ground) on chasing debut at year ago, only to be disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance; made low-key reappearance on good ground here in December but still features prominently in calculations.

9/4

OUR TIP

7/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 9-4345

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Just 1-13 over hurdles but has arrested his decline and made the frame in three handicaps this season (2m-2m5f); copes well with heavy ground and will find this race much easier than useful Chepstow novice he contested on last week's chasing debut; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Storming Nelson

11st 2lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Needs to up his game after two below-par recent runs (2m/2m3f) but his second to a next-time-out winner at Taunton (2m2f, heavy) in early February was a good effort and this step up in trip is an interesting move.

9/1

5th

7

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Storming Nelson

11st 0lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Over two years since sole career win in a novice hurdle here; 0-3 over fences and easily the best of those runs was the second at Taunton (2m2f, heavy); ideally wants that slower ground.

8/1

3rd

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Ffos Las

Storming Nelson

11st 9lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Out the back with DJ Pete in a Chepstow novice on chasing debut, and better judged on his Taunton handicap second since (2m2f, heavy); Exeter hurdles winner likely to appreciate the return to a longer track.

9/4

7/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: P888-6 BF

Last run: 86 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 6yo; unplaced all five British starts, most recently when well-held sixth on seasonal/chase debut in November, but was given a wind op in December and may yet come good for Venetia Williams.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

16:20 Fontwell

Falco Des Pins

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French gelding who's got it together since undergoing wind surgery, backing up a Ludlow win (2m, soft) when easily seeing off three others at Leicester last week; every chance of the hat-trick upped another 6lb.

5/4

1st

1

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

16:30 Leicester

Falco Des Pins

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French recruit who gained a first success on just his third run over fences in 2m Ludlow handicap 16 days ago; up 6lb but he scored cosily there and looks the one to beat.

11/10

Form: 51F733

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Just 1-11 over fences but gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and should be fine on the slower ground here; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Jaitroplaclasse

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and perhaps not helped by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite next time; only 1-12 as a chaser but he's in the mix.

5/1

4th

1

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Jaitroplaclasse

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Just 1-11 over fences but gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and should be fine on the slower ground here; one to consider.

7/2

3rd

7

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

14:17 Ludlow

Jaitroplaclasse

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Made all in small-field Newton Abbot chase (2m, good to soft) in September and put a below-par run behind him when respectable third at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day but others appeal more all the same; moves back up in trip and sports first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

Form: 83-226 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Disappointing favourite when back over hurdles last month but came second in two soft-ground chases in November (2m/2m4f) and will be on the premises if quickly back on song in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:20 Leicester

Nedzor

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Henry Oliver

Still a maiden and this season has been a game of two halves, with his second-place finishes in November preceding a couple of poor efforts; doesn't look as if he's about to get off the mark.

11/2

4

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Nedzor

10st 13lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Henry Oliver

Disappointing favourite when back over hurdles last month but came second in two soft-ground chases in November (2m/2m4f) and will be on the premises if quickly back on song in first-time cheekpieces.

7/2

Form: 116-P7

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner (once on heavy ground) in early part of last year but yet to strike form after two starts this term; needs good boost from first-time cheekpieces on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Just Aidan

11st 3lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Mixed results (U15) since wearing cheekpieces and switched to chasing; disappointing favourite on good ground last time; rebound needed in the retained headgear.

13/2

5th

3

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Just Aidan

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Dual hurdle winner who made it second time lucky over fences when beating seven rivals in a Bangor handicap (2m2f, soft) last month; up 5lb but he turned things around with that comfortable success and should have more to offer in this sphere; key player.

7/4

1st

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Just Aidan

10st 12lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Two wins over hurdles; showed nothing in that discipline on his return from a break and unseated mid-race on chase debut three weeks ago; too risky.

14/1

Form: 334-87

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Tailed off here (2m, good to soft) on last month's chasing debut and now 0-8 overall; might have needed that outing (his first since July) but others in the line-up have more obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

22nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:55 Worcester

Holy Legend

10st 11lb

J: James Best

T: Alexandra Dunn

Off the mark on his fifth attempt over fences at Fontwell (2m2f, good) in May and made the winner pull out all the stops when second over C&D (good) last month; in decent nick at present and looks sure to give a good account.

3/1

2nd

7

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:55 Worcester

Holy Legend

10st 12lb

J: James Best

T: Alexandra Dunn

Opened his account over fences with an emphatic win at Fontwell (2m2f, good) last month; will find it tougher off 10lb higher but should be kept onside.

4/1

Form: 3P0P-0

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Showed nothing more than glimmers of promise during eight-race hurdling career (2m-3m) and is 3lb out of the weights for this chasing debut; difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

14:52 Ludlow

Joker Jack

10st 5lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Claire Hitch

Has no form claims and being 6lb out of the weights is no help; instantly opposed.

100/1

9th

11

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

19:30 Taunton

Joker Jack

10st 5lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Claire Hitch

Pulled up on two of his three starts this season, including on chase debut in February and when tried in this headgear combination back over hurdles last time; has undergone wind surgery since but still looks best watched.

50/1

11

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:25 Hereford

Joker Jack

10st 5lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Claire Hitch

Has shown only the odd sign of ability over hurdles and pulled up on chase debut last month; 5lb out of the handicap back hurdling; cheekpieces (tried once) join the tongue-tie of last three starts.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.70
Straight Forecast £17.05
Tricast £85.94
Trifecta £110.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Palawan Du Mazet

The Times:

Jaitroplaclasse

The Sun:

Nedzor

Telegraph:

Just Aidan

POSTDATA:

Storming Nelson

RP RATINGS:

Palawan Du Mazet

The Guardian:

Palawan Du Mazet

D Express:

Palawan Du Mazet

The Star:

Nedzor

Daily Mail:

Jaitroplaclasse

Daily Mirror:

Jaitroplaclasse

Daily Record:

Jaitroplaclasse