March 09 / 16.10 Taunton

16.10

Good

DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Welcome Offer Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 7f 198y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
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DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Welcome Offer Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 06833

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced son of Walk In The Park who has taken a big step forward since sent handicapping, cheekpieces on when a clear third of ten at Chepstow (3m) 24 days ago; up 2lb but he can do better still with the headgear retained and merits serious consideration.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Walkinthepresent

11st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

Off the mark at the sixth attempt over hurdles when when justifying favouritism at Taunton (3m, good) last month; up 7lb but he hit a clear personal best with that comfortable success and he's a major player again.

13/8

1st

8

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Walkinthepresent

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

Lightly raced son of Walk In The Park who has taken a big step forward since sent handicapping, cheekpieces on when a clear third of ten at Chepstow (3m) 24 days ago; up 2lb but he can do better still with the headgear retained and merits serious consideration.

3/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: -33374

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Yet to score this season but she comes here in decent nick, fourth of nine over C&D in December; mark is easing so she has possibilities after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:30 Taunton

Lady Caro

12st 0lb

J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker

T: Emma Lavelle

2-16 in handicaps, raised to 3m here (good) for last three outings; ridden by Cameron Johnstone-Baker last month on last two starts, runner-up before winning easily with a career best four weeks ago (Miss Tiara third); 8lb higher today but needs plenty of respect.

7/4

1st

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Lady Caro

11st 11lb

J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker

T: Emma Lavelle

Sole win (from 22 races) in March 2025; nearly all minor honours this term, runner-up under Cameron Johnstone-Baker over C&D (good) last time; strong each-way claims again.

9/4

2nd

6

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Lady Caro

11st 4lb

J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker

T: Emma Lavelle

Yet to score this season but she comes here in decent nick, fourth of nine over C&D in December; mark is easing so she has possibilities after a break.

14/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 9-3007

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise in two bumpers last spring but he's failed to go on over hurdles, only seventh of nine in 2m novice here in January; steps up markedly in trip for his handicap debut though and could still do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:50 Ffos Las

Hard Stare

11st 11lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Some promise in bumpers but has yet to get anything going over hurdles and was beaten 25l on his handicap debut at Taunton (3m, good; 6-1).

10/1

3rd

7

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Hard Stare

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Showed some promise in two bumpers last spring but he's failed to go on over hurdles, only seventh of nine in 2m novice here in January; steps up markedly in trip for his handicap debut though and could still do better.

8/1

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

20:10 Fontwell

Hard Stare

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

£20,000 3yo who easily landed the odds in a point bumper at Larkhill in January; 7-1 but beaten nearly 20l when ninth on his rules debut at Newbury (also good; led before weakening) in March; that was a valuable event, however, and he still sets the standard on that form; tongue tie goes on.

6/4

7/1

Form: -2P6P7

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Ex-French winning hurdler; has failed to build on a promising start for his current yard but hinted at a revival (in first-time blinkers) when seventh of 13 in 2m3f handicap here in January; in the picture, despite being 3lb out of the handicap, for yard that has taken the past two runnings of this.
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: 2-U534

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Still a maiden over hurdles but he came in a respectable fourth of 11 in 2m5f Kempton handicap 35 days ago; that form is working out well so he needs considering off a 2lb lower mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:42 Fontwell

Washington Singer

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Chris Gordon

Hadn't always looked straightforward so the new cheekpieces were probably a factor in his narrow defeat of an in-form rival at Plumpton (2m4f, good); still nicely treated off 3lb higher.

9/4

1st

2

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

17:10 Plumpton

Washington Singer

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Maiden who has hinted at winning potential but last run at Taunton (3m, good) was a backward step as he didn't look straightforward; if the cheekpieces can focus his mind then the ability is there to take a hand.

6/1

5th

1

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Washington Singer

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Chris Gordon

Still a maiden over hurdles but he came in a respectable fourth of 11 in 2m5f Kempton handicap 35 days ago; that form is working out well so he needs considering off a 2lb lower mark.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 04P6/9

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
A fair 2m6f/3m2f hurdles scorer for Syd Hosie in 2023; off 22 months and offered little for his new yard when beating only one in 3m Chepstow handicap 24 days ago; others are much preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Hunting Percival

11st 9lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

A fair 2m6f/3m2f hurdles scorer for Syd Hosie in 2023; off 22 months and offered little for his new yard when beating only one in 3m Chepstow handicap 24 days ago; others are much preferred.

100/1

9th

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Hunting Percival

12st 0lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Four-time hurdle winner (2m-3m2f, good/good to soft) but not since 2023; absent since well-held sixth at Plumpton (3m1f, good) for Syd Hosie in April 2024 and can only be watched on this stable debut.

50/1

6th

10

14th Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 3

15:15 Plumpton

Hunting Percival

10st 12lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

prominent

33/1

Form: 525542 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Scored four times over fences (at up to 3m) in 2023 and not disgraced when second of seven in 2m3f handicap chase at Market Rasen last month; this veteran is no forlorn hope switched to this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Chief Black Robe

11st 12lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Difficult times since back from absence last June but he's dropped a long way in the weights and there have been some signs of life; non-stayer over the extended 3m3f at Stratford recently (Carpe Diem runner-up) but he didn't run badly and better is expected.

4/1

3rd

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Chief Black Robe

12st 0lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Back with his former trainer on his last five starts; landed a four-timer for this yard in 2023; hasn't won since and has failed to complete on his last two starts; visor worn last time is left off; well handicapped if able to return to anywhere near his best form.

5/1

Form: 562255 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 9lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who had been running well in both codes until a well-held fifth in 2m4f Wincanton handicap hurdle 39 days ago; she's the sort to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Inchagoill Lady

10st 9lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Kevin Pickard

C&D winner who had been running well in both codes until a well-held fifth in 2m4f Wincanton handicap hurdle 39 days ago; she's the sort to bounce back.

12/1

5th

10

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

15:03 Wincanton

Inchagoill Lady

10st 11lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Just 1-20 under rules but runner-up in two of her last three runs, including over hurdles at Hereford (2m5f, good) in November; sole win was on good to firm ground but she handles soft (more to prove on heavy) and has possibilities back in this sphere.

10/1

5

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

Inchagoill Lady

11st 2lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Well supported when scoring at Taunton (3m, good to firm) on penultimate start, her first after wind surgery; went up 5lb for that; couldn't match that effort when dropped back to 2m2f here latest; drops 1lb and the return to further should suit; player.

7/1

Non-runners

Shuil Ceoil, Special John

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.10
Straight Forecast £21.08
Tricast £95.84
Trifecta £136.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Walkinthepresent

Daily Mail:

Special John

RP RATINGS:

Chief Black Robe

TOPSPEED:

Lady Caro

The Times:

Walkinthepresent

Telegraph:

Walkinthepresent

The Guardian:

Walkinthepresent

The Star:

Walkinthepresent

D Express:

Special John

Daily Mirror:

Special John

The Sun:

Lady Caro

POSTDATA:

Chief Black Robe

Daily Record:

Chief Black Robe