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

4th

9

23rd Aug 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:08 Worcester

Gata Ban

10st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

At the eighth attempt she comfortably opened her account as a chaser over C&D in early June and then defied a penalty at Fontwell (3m2f, good), though that was harder work in a four-runner race; 3lb higher this time but unlikely to be far away.

4/1

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

1st

4

29th Aug 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Illogical Logic

11st 0lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: David Thompson

Novice handicap chase winner but he wasn't the most consistent for Christian Williams; makes a quick return having signed off for that yard with fair second at Stratford (about 3m3f, good to firm) last Thursday; would probably welcome rain turning this into a stamina test and a popular win for his new owner can't be ruled out.

13/2

2nd

4

20th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

19:36 Stratford

Illogical Logic

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Last season ended on a low note, as he wasn't in much form before pulling up here in April behind Yes And Yes; the cheekpieces returned for his June run and he perhaps went off too hard having been clear at one stage (often front runs); has wellbeing issues to address, but he's on a handy mark and Jack Tudor is back aboard replacing a 7lb claimer (up top last three races).

9/2

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

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

2nd

6

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Mcgregors Charge

10st 7lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Polly Gundry

Well beaten on last month's stable debut at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) but made a lot of the running before fading into fourth over that C&D (good to firm) in refitted cheekpieces and a first-time tongue a fortnight later, and it's worth remembering that his only career win came in this race in 2024; goes in just the tongue-tie today; interesting.

6/1

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

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