Racing
Taunton Place 6 preview | 9th January
12.55 – Broadway & Horton Cricket Club Novices’ Hurdle – 2m3f
The Paul Nicholls-trained ILIKO D’OLIVATE ran a race full of promise when runner-up in a French juvenile hurdle event back in March and will make his UK/stable debut in a winnable race following wind surgery. He has an excellent chance in the opener and should finish in the frame at the least under Harry Cobden.
Selections: ILIKO D’OLIVATE
13.25 – Summerfield Developments Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2m
None of the quartet can be ruled out so all of them are included. CAP DU MATHAN has won here over hurdles and has ran well the last two times over fences. A bold bid is expected, while CALL OF THE WILD has the scope to be a decent chaser and could make amends for his early mishap last time. A long absence is slightly worrying but ROBIN’S DREAM could go well if fully-tuned up and EARTH COMPANY has course-and-distance winning form, so isn’t out of this getting weight from his three rivals.
Selections: CAP DU MATHAN, CALL OF THE WILD, ROBIN’S DREAM, EARTH COMPANY
13.55 – Invest Southwest Maiden Hurdle – 2m
RARE MIDDLETON went close on his debut when half a length second of 24 at the Curragh before going one better next time. He could be a very useful recruit to this sphere for the Paul Nicholls and is a short-price favourite to score on his hurdles debut here. He could be way too good for these and could even be a graded horse in the making given the enormous potential he has as well. A worthy favourite.
Selections: RARE MIDDLETON
14.30 – Invest Southwest Maiden Hurdle – 2m
Paul Nicholls’ day could get even better with AFADIL, who won the Flat when trained in France and will start out in a weak race. He is a short-priced favourite for a horse with no form in the UK yet but the opposition look rather thin, so hopefully Harry Cobden can keep up the good work for his boss by guiding this son of Camelot to a winning hurdles debut here.
Selections: AFADIL
15.00 – Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle – 2m3f
LADY ADARE is four-from-four under rules and three-from-three over hurdles and is well-treated off 130 judged on her seven-length defeat of Get A Tonic, who subsequently went close at Haydock off a mark of 133 when second in the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle. She could prove to be a class above these, while FOREVER WILLIAM placed in two Graded events last year and ran well when fifth in the Greatwood Hurdle. He has a good chance.
Selections: LADY ADARE, FOREVER WILLIAM
15.35 – Portman Cup Saturday 21st January Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – 2m
BORN TO PLEASE has been well beaten in each of her last four starts on the Flat but she has finished second in her last two starts over hurdles and should go well if repeating her latest second to Dollar Bae. NEVER NO TROUBLE ran well when runner-up in a mares’ handicap at Leicester in November and she might go one better back from a break here.
Selections: BORN TO PLEASE, NEVER NO TROUBLE
