ROBIN - Taunton 3.30 Handicap Chase - Class 5 - 2 miles 7 furlongs - 11 run - Soft

 

I'm not overly excited by the 3 probable market leaders here.

 

Young O'Leary is from the Tim Vaughan yard that is having a better spell after a couple of years when many of his horses seem to have had health issues, it's run well here before, best at the trip a runner up effort on Good ground it's a Course winner at 2 miles 2 furlongs and has a favourites chance but not yet proven on soft Going to any degree and just one that I feel we can take on at the price.

 

Artemision for Ben Pauling is well supported but both the trip and Going are unknowns, the yard is in a solid run of form, they clearly see potential at the trip but at the price i'm willing to leave it alone as I am with Minella Examiner who has won off a mark of 100, placed off a mark of 109 at 3 miles plus but who has clearly had some training issues as it's only run twice in 2 years and it would be wise i think to wait for some actual form to emerge after such a spell of relative inactivity.

 

The one I think is the most solid in terms of form and fitness and with the yard in very good form is Chris Gordon's BLACK CENTAUR its won over 3 miles 2 furlongs off a mark of 102, a 3 mile P2P winner who has run best on slightly better ground but who seems to handle Soft Going too so no excuses off a mark of 100 here.

 

Queen of the Court is one who could step up and take closer order with some proven 3 mile P2P form, it's only the second run over fences though and may warrant a small investment but it's a lot shorter in the markets than expected so  is narrowly passed over by DON'T BE ROBIN who is very versatile trip wise from 2 miles to 3 miles plus, it's run well at 3 miles 2 furlongs on heavy Going here and at 2 miles and 2 miles 3 furlongs in the past 12 months, my only niggle off the back of that is a handicap mark of 88 but I'd prefer it off 88 at the price to any of the 3 market leaders at the time of writing.