*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change.
12:30 – Zero To Hero
ZERO TO HERO is still without a win, but she arrives here in good form, running respectably to finish third in a much better race than this at Chepstow last month. She has been eased 2 lb in the weights since that performance and is certainly worth considering on these terms.
13:00 – Allavina
A fairly useful winner in bumpers, ALLAVINA showed a clear aptitude for hurdling when second at Fakenham in December, and she improved further to go one place better at Fontwell last time, suited by the step up in trip as she justified support at the expense of two penalised runners. She appeals as the sort to go on improving, especially over this longer trip, so she gets the vote to follow up.
13:30 – The Widdow Maker
THE WIDDOW MAKER produced his best effort to date when third at Wincanton last month, hanging in there having torn off in front, just finishing one paced after being headed following the last. That race has since worked out reasonably well, and, with a first-time hood applied, The Widdow Maker boasts excellent claims of opening his account against lesser opposition.
14:00 – Ring The Moon
RING THE MOON bounced back to form with the help of a tongue strap when finding just one too good in a Chepstow handicap hurdle last month, and, switched back to chasing, he confirmed his wellbeing with a wide-margin success at Leicester last week, jumping far better than previously as he drew clear from two out. He is quickly turned out after that performance and looks the clear one to beat under a 7 lb penalty.
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14:30 – King Roland
KING ROLAND quickly made up into a useful hurdler last term, opening his account at the second attempt before finishing second in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last year, and he produced an encouraging chasing debut when third in a novice at Uttoxeter in October, just too exuberant to do himself full justice. He has another absence to overcome, but he is open to improvement, perhaps significantly so, and, now switched back to hurdles, his opening mark looks a reasonable one.
15:05 – Storm Home
STORM HOME doesn’t boast the best strike rate but he has looked capable over fences and would likely have won over this course and distance last time had he jumped the last cleanly, left in front soon after the second last and looking to have the race at his mercy when stumbling at the final flight, going down by only a head. He has only gone up 2 lb for that performance, however, and this could prove the perfect opportunity for him to make amends.
15:40 – Kingsmill Gin
KINGSMILL GIN produced her best effort to date when fourth in a Wincanton handicap in December, shaping with sufficient promise to suggest she may have a race like this in her at some point. She wasn’t in the same form on very soft going at Chepstow last time, seemingly not suited by the testing conditions, but she has been eased 2 lb in the weights for that effort, and she may be worth another chance in a race where the majority of the field have something to prove.
Timeform’s best picks for Taunton:
12:30 – Zero To Hero
13:00 – Allavina
13:30 – The Widdow Maker
14:00 – Ring The Moon
14:30 – King Roland
15:05 – Storm Home
15:40 – Kingsmill Gin
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change.
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