We've done pretty well finding winners of a number of these lower grade Taunton Handicaps this winter and one of those horses runs again today being KENDELU who won when tipped off a mark of 92 in November and again off a mark of 96 at the next Course meeting. That's quite unusual at this Grade and not surprisingly the horse, up to a mark over 100 hasn't fired the next twice. It clearly loves the Track and can't be totally discounted but off a mark of 103 here I'd have to say I think there are better options although I rate it a danger.

 

At the head of the market is an unexposed Harry Fry runner, MUY BEN who makes handicap debut, steps up in trip but although running with some promise hasn't really gotten as close as some finishing positions suggest. Fry is one to watch and fear here but I'm not wholly convinced at the price.

 

There are a few others who could be on decent Handicap marks but very unexposed, Sidewaysinmilan as an example is a National Hunt Bumper Flat winner who has finished 2nd and 3rd over 2 miles but didn't seem to get 2 and a half miles last time. It has though placed in 3 mile P2P races and obviously has ability and rates a massive danger.  Another from the 3 mile P2P fields is Clondaw Dancer who has been out of form for a while and has had a wind operation to try to improve things. Harry Skelton rides for Jeremy Scott and whilst thats eye-catching as a booking its also notable that Skeltons retainer Paul Nicholls has no runners on the Card as they try to work out lack of stable form. Both of those will be serious contenders.

 

Iberlo for Phillip Hobbs is another who is unexposed on Handicap debut and another who has won a Bumper and its probable that Mystic Court a previous Course and Distance winner, who has gone to Harriet Brown , may just need the run off a 168 day break but could be one to Track onwards here especially on slightly better ground.

 

At big odds I think Sastruga could run far better than the market suggests, top weight and totally out of form recently but another who has had a wind op. If it works the horse has decent form when in peak health winning a similar race to this in October 2020 at Newton Abbot off a mark of 109. It runs off 104 here and any glimmer of a return to form will see it going in to our longer term tracker.

 

I most fancy an exposed one who has done nothing wrong and a couple of more unexposed types who have shown enough to suggest they can pick up a small race.

 

KARAKORAM was 4th of 17 here (when tipped) on the 22nd January and 4th of 13 at Huntingdon (when subject to a positive write up) on the 14th Jnauary.It won here on the 30th December over Course and Distance off a mark of 83 at 11/1 and runs off a mark today of 85 with a 7lbs claim. Unless one of the unexposed ones deliver on its potential significantly then that is rock solid Course and Distance form and there is no logical reason why the horse can't gain another win or at the very least a place.

 

At bigger Odds I'm drawn to KALZARI for David Pipe, an ex French winner over 2 miles and 1 furlong and one who has raced freely over 2 miles and 2 miles 3 furlongs on early UK runs. Both have shown promise including one at the Course and ridden with a little more restraint it would be no surprise to see further improvement.

 

Kayley Woolacotts Enormouse showed fine form when winning at Chepstow when a highlighted Tracker on Friday to suggest the Yards horses are fit and well and URABAMBA who is an Irish import having won over 2 miles for Henry De Bromhead and a runner up too in Ireland over this trip should now be acclimatised and ready to improve and fulfil some obvious potential. Its dropped in Class, upped to this trip from initial UK runs and the UK handicap mark of 103, with a good 7lbs Claimer up suggests it has a better chance than generous Odds suggest.