Taunton 3.30
Taunton 3.30 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 3 - 3 miles - 12 run - Good to Soft
A very competitive race with plenty in ere with scope and potential and probably one of those races worth bookmarking for a glut of future winners and placed runners.
Time To Tinker for Paul Nicholls is upped in trip but done nothing wrong so far and similarly Tip Top Cat for the O'Brien/McPherson combo has been impressive in winning the last 2 runs but is up in trip and 8lbs higher. I will have a small reverse forecast on those to cover off something a bit more speculative.
Alrightjack moves up in trip too after a nice win at Fontwell his best effort so far and likely to be in contention here if getting the 3 miles; Sizable Sam returns to Hurdles and on best Hurdles form would have a squeak but unproven too at this trip, Hell Red has shown little so far for Paul Nicholls but his 2nd strings are always worth a look at bigger odds as we saw in the Welsh National and it would be no surprise to see some improvement upped in trip.
ONLY THE BOLD looks excellent each way value though to me for Evan Williams. It's upped in trip but has winning 3 mile P2P form in Ireland so may be seen in a better light here. It's interesting to note that the horse it beat in that P2P win was Tommys Oscar, who has won under Rules for Ann Hamilton off marks of 138 and 147 very impressively, so excuse me if the eyes were drawn wide open to a mark of 121 here. Well worth a speculative punt and whatever happens today add to your long term Trackers.
Another one at a big price is TASTE THE FEAT for Dr Newland. It's won at 2 miles 7 furlongs on Good ground at Uttoxeter ; and has run well in defeat on Good to Soft and Soft Going, so absolutely no Ground excuses here. It's had 2 runs, could be running into full fitness and did win 3rd race up last season. Off a mark of 125 it's another that I think can run a big race.
TRACKERS - Only The Bold + Taste The Feat.