April 09 / 17.20 Taunton

17.20

Good

Mike’s Seventieth Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5967.53
  • 2m 7f 3y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Mike’s Seventieth Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £17.60
  • Place: £6.40

Form: P52UP4

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner who showed up well until tiring on his first start for three months when fourth of eight finishers at Hereford (2m5f, good) 15 days ago; first-time visor replaces regular cheekpieces; place claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Boys Of Wexford

11st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Returned to winning ways in the new visor at Taunton (2m7f, good) but whether he'll follow one good run with another is questionable and he's gone up 6lb.

9/2

1st

8

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Boys Of Wexford

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Dual chase winner who showed up well until tiring on his first start for three months when fourth of eight finishers at Hereford (2m5f, good) 15 days ago; first-time visor replaces regular cheekpieces; place claims.

10/1

4th

7

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Boys Of Wexford

10st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Henry Oliver

Dual chase winner; seemingly back in good nick when second at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) in November but ended 2025 with two non-completions and his record when fresh is not good; others preferred.

8/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 548-62 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Both wins when trained by Alan King; showed little on return from 404-day layoff at Leicester in January for new yard but much better when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last month; runs off the same mark and holds place claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:27 Ludlow

Hall Lane

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Only 1-13 over fences but is threatening to double his tally, having stayed on for second in the last two of three starts for new yard, latest at Taunton (2m7f, good); possibilities off same mark.

2/1

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Hall Lane

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Both wins when trained by Alan King; showed little on return from 404-day layoff at Leicester in January for new yard but much better when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last month; runs off the same mark and holds place claims at least.

3/1

Form: 41745P CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

16th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:27 Worcester

School For Scandal

10st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Five-time chase winner, most recently at Windsor (3m, good to soft) in the autumn; back on a good mark now but he's not easy to predict and has been pulled up on two of his last three outings (bled from the nose last time); others preferred.

16/1

7

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

School For Scandal

10st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tickle

Two more chase wins in 2025, the latest at Windsor (3m, good to soft; suited by good) in November; often battled with unsuitable ground over the winter but 4lb lower than at Windsor so has a weights chance.

10/1

Form: -26663 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Second on her chase debut at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) in October but has failed to back up that run since; no improvement following wind surgery last time and has been dropped another 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

10th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

16:00 Fontwell

Gata Ban

10st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

No match for Ballyfinn when having to settle for second place over C&D (good) last month, but opened her account over fences at Worcester (2m7f, good) on Saturday; shoulders a 7lb penalty and this looks tougher.

13/8

1st

11

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:20 Worcester

Gata Ban

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

0-7 over fences but ran big race in defeat when second at Fontwell (3m2f, good) last month, looking the likely winner until collared on run-in; one of two for the stable and a player off same mark again today.

13/2

Form: PP2234

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Just the one win in 22 starts but three decent runs when placed prior to a below par effort when tailed off at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; his poor win record does not inspire.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

23rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

20:50 Newton Abbot

Illogical Logic

11st 5lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Ended last season with three poor runs but is now 3lb lower than when making all over C&D (good) in cheekpieces just over a year ago and might be boosted by the returning headgear.

12/1

5

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Illogical Logic

11st 2lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Landed his sole win off this mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) last June but has been tailed off on his last two starts; would be considered if operating at his best but needs to sharpen up.

7/1

6th

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Illogical Logic

11st 2lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Just the one win in 22 starts but three decent runs when placed prior to a below par effort when tailed off at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; his poor win record does not inspire.

6/1

Form: 24132P D

Last run: 188 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark at Perth (3m, good) last August off 9lb lower mark when trained by Ella Pickard; two decent efforts when placed subsequently but was pulled up at Hexham in October when last seen; makes stable debut and worth a look in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

19th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:22 Newton Abbot

Mcgregors Charge

10st 7lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Polly Gundry

1-12 over fences; below par for a while now, including on recent stable debut; new headgear combination.

14/1

5th

4

3rd Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:05 Newton Abbot

Mcgregors Charge

11st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Polly Gundry

Sole success came in a 3m handicap chase on good ground at Perth last August when 6lb lower; he can cope with this mark but needs a return to form on his stable debut.

10/1

7th

7

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

19:00 Taunton

Mcgregors Charge

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

A chase at Perth (3m, good) last August off 5lb lower was his only win from 17 starts; left Ella Pickard before pulled up here 13 days ago on debut for new stable, but it's notable that he started 13-8 favourite in that chase; now he's back hurdling for first time since 2022.

7/1

Form: -31463

Last run: 231 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

21st Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

13:30 Doncaster

Cave Article

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

26,000euros 3yo; second foal; dam unraced half-sister to bumper and smart 2m4f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner Casey Jones; ran in two Irish maiden points last year, runner-up in October on second occasion; probably one for later on but market should guide on rules debut.

16/1

Non-runners

Fat Sam

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £66.50
Straight Forecast £91.91
Tricast £851.62
Trifecta £645.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Hall Lane

SPOTLIGHT:

Cave Article

Daily Mirror:

Mcgregors Charge

The Star:

School For Scandal

Telegraph:

Cave Article

D Express:

Cave Article

POSTDATA:

Hall Lane

The Times:

Hall Lane

The Guardian:

Hall Lane

Daily Mail:

Hall Lane

Daily Record:

Hall Lane

The Sun:

Mcgregors Charge