Thursday tips at Taunton
12.28 – Wajaaha
13:00 – Baliyad
13:35 – Brentford Hope
14:08 – Huelgoat
14:38 – Ilanz
15:08 – Airtothethrone
15:40 – Braganza Bay
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
12:28 – Wajaaha
Wajaaha capitalised on the drop in grade to selling company when registering an easy ten-length success at Plumpton last month, and he followed that up with a win in a Flat handicap at Dundalk where he did well to get up close home after breaking very slowly. He couldn’t get away with blowing the start at Dundalk last time, but he looks to have been found a nice opportunity to bounce back here as he is favoured by the terms of this contest and is 10 lb clear at the head of Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings.
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13:00 – Baliyad
Plenty of these have something to prove at present but Baliyad arrives in decent nick following runner-up efforts at Wincanton and Ludlow the last twice. Baliyad lost ground leaving the back straight in that novices’ claiming hurdle at Ludlow last time but he rallied well from two out and ended up performing creditably, getting to within two lengths of the winner. He should be on the premises if running to a similar level here.
13:35 – Brentford Hope
Smart Flat performer Brentford Hope made an encouraging start over hurdles when runner-up at Ludlow last month and he is entitled to come on for that experience. Brentford Hope was unable to get on terms with the well-supported favourite Western Zephyr, who contested a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last season, but he pulled well clear of the remainder. He can make the most of the 7 lb he receives from Rubaud who was an impressive winner over this course and distance on his reappearance last month.
14:08 – Huelgoat
Huelgoat won his first four starts over fences but his winning run came to an end when only third in a two-mile-and-seven-furlong handicap chase here last month. A mistake at the fourth-last when upsides cost him crucial momentum and offers some excuse for that performance, however, and he might be able to bounce back. He takes a marked drop in trip here but is a strong-travelling sort which offers encouragement.
14:38 – Ilanz
Bumper winner Ilanz made little impact on his first couple of starts over hurdles but he proved a different proposition on his handicap debut at Market Rasen last week, quickening up well and winning readily. The style of that success, allied with his fairly useful form in bumpers, suggests he could run up a sequence so he will be difficult to beat off the same mark here.
15:08 – Airtothethrone
Airtothethrone finished placed on both starts in Irish points in 2020 and he offered something to work with when third on his bumper debut at Chepstow and runner-up on his first start over hurdles at Ffos Las last year. He disappointed on his reappearance over hurdles at Ffos Las in October but he produced a more encouraging effort when third on his chasing debut in a novice handicap at Ludlow last month, showing aptitude for the task. He’s entitled to progress from that experience and looks the one to side with.
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15:40 – Braganza Bay
Braganza Bay justified good support when landing a three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap hurdle at Hereford last month, looking suited by the increased emphasis on stamina as he stayed on well to draw three and a quarter lengths clear of the runner-up who in turn was 23 lengths ahead of the third. The cheekpieces that Braganza Bay was wearing for the first time at Hereford are unsurprisingly retained and a 5 lb rise in the weights looks lenient, particularly as he remains unexposed as a stayer.
Thursday tips at Taunton
12.28 – Wajaaha
13:00 – Baliyad
13:35 – Brentford Hope
14:08 – Huelgoat
14:38 – Ilanz
15:08 – Airtothethrone
15:40 – Braganza Bay
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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