First Race 1.40

from Taunton Racecard – Monday 13th March

Official BHA Ratings Explained

The William Hill Cheltenham Epic Odds

Junior ‘National Hunt’ Hurdle Race (Class 4) (GBB Race)

for novice four yrs old x Total prize fund £8800 Owners Prize Money. 1st £3554, 2nd £1777, 3rd £889, 4th £444, 5th £222. (Penalty Value £4647.28)

Race Description

2m 104y

Junior races tend to be for younger horses that are still learning their way over hurdles and allow them to race against each other before graduating up the ranks. This particular two miles and half a furlong novices’ hurdle race is for horses aged four-years-old and upwards which have not won more than three hurdle races.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder J Jockey T Trainer S Sponsor colours no horse

1 DESPEREAUX (FR) (59) r13 D st-lb

11-7

Br B g Great Pretender (IRE) - Rouvraie (FR) David Noonan J

O Chasing Gold Racing Club Mrs Jane Williams, South Molton T

B Mr Francois-Marie Cottin Culverhill Farm Racing S

TIMEFORMVIEWOff the mark in 2m Huntingdon maiden hurdle in November and good effort in useful juvenile contest there 8 weeks ago,still going well when edged ahead brieﬂy entering straight,sticking at it when all wrong at the last More to come and looks the one to beat TFRHHHHH BHA115

2 SOLOMOON (GB) (41) 516

11-7

Br Br g Pether’s Moon (IRE) - Solojorie (FR) Bridget Andrews J

O Yorton Racing Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Yorton Farm Stud Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORMVIEW Off the mark in similar event at Doncaster in November but not so good under a penalty at Ffos Las next time and needs to ﬁnd more

3 AMALFI SKYLINE (GB) (22) 5U

TFRHHHII BHA112

11-0

Br B g Telescope (IRE) - Maria Antonia (IRE) Gavin Sheehan J

O Amalﬁ Bloodstock Pat Murphy, Hungerford T

B Clear Racing Ltd

TIMEFORMVIEWCould do with settling down but clearly has ability and would probably have bettered his debut effort had he completed at Newbury last month, unseating 3 out having again pulled hard.

4 GEORGI GIRL (IRE) (41) 13 D BF

TFRHHHII BHA-

11-0

Br Ch f Getaway (GER) - Gales Hill (IRE) Ben Jones J

O Michael Rembaum & Michael Tuckey Philip Hobbs, Minehead T

B The Red Marble Syndicate Equine Bio Genie Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEW Readily won well-run Ludlow ﬁllies’ event on debut in December but didn’t get as generous a gallop when only third under a penalty at Ffos Las Remains with potential.

TFRHHHII BHA111

5 HIM MALAYA (FR) (76) 3P BF 11-0

Br B g Martaline - Clarte d’Or (FR)

Harry Cobden J

O Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T

B Elise Chayrigues & Henrietta Charlet Morson Group S

TIMEFORMVIEW Travelled well for a long way despite failing the land the odds on debut at Newton Abbot but shaped as if amiss in warm Kempton contest at Christmas. Subsequent wind op might have helped and he’s got a fair bit about him, so worth keeping positive about.

TFRHHHII BHA-

6 MILTON BOY (FR) (66) 0 11-0

Br B g Doctor Dino (FR) - Valgenceuse (IRE) Brendan Powell J

O Hawke, Rand & Simms Nigel Hawke, Tiverton T

B E. Drouet, D. Salmon & A.Gaucher-Herbert Junction 24 Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEW 33/1, green and well held in similar event at Ludlow on debut in January.

TFRHIIII BHA-

7 NICKELFORCE (IRE) (108) 4 11-0

Br B g Workforce - Nickel (IRE)

O Lovell Massey Meads Smith Walsh

B Mr Neville Reid

Jack Quinlan J

Ben Case, Banbury T

David Andrews Construction Limited S

TIMEFORMVIEW Fitted with a hood and well backed for November Doncaster debut but failed to meet expectations, plugging on and ﬁnishing with some running left. Should do better

TFRHHHII BHA-

8 SCRATCH CARD (IRE) (15) 0r 11-0

Br Ch g Galileo Gold - Fondled

O Mrs I. A. Balding

B Ringfort Stud

James Best J

Rebecca Curtis, Newport T

William Hill S

TIMEFORMVIEW Didn’t get home in Wincanton bumper ﬁrst time up and far too free for the short amount of time he was in the race on hurdles debut at Hereford a fortnight ago, clear when running out at the second. Hood goes on.

TFRHHIII BHA-

9 DAMASK (FR) (56) 5U

10-7

Br B f Walzertakt (GER) - Lyric Melody (FR) Charlie Hammond J

O DahlBury Racing and Chapel Stud Ltd

Tom Symonds, Hentland T

B E. A. R. L. Elevage Des Loges Simply Stunning Interiors S

TIMEFORMVIEW No show in 2 of these races for ﬁllies so far Tongue tie goes on.

10 GRUMPY ROSIE (GB) (71) 2

Br B f Pour Moi (IRE) - Thedeboftheyear

TFRHIIII BHA-

10-7

Finn Lambert (5) J

O Mr G. Thompson Chris Honour, Ashburton T

B G. D. Thompson Cotswold Stone Supplies S

TIMEFORMVIEW Didn’t achieve a great deal despite ﬁnishing second in a bumper at Exeter in January but bred for the job over jumps and she’s one to keep an eye on.

11 JINA (FR) (22) P3

TFRHHHII BHA-

10-7

Br B f Wings of Eagles (FR) - Valoise (FR) Paul O’Brien J

O FB Racing Club Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T

B Jean Besnouin & Marie-Therese Besnouin Thoroughbid S

TIMEFORMVIEW Sent off a short price but was eased off on debut in December Supported again and showed a bit more at Newbury 22 days ago, already looking in need of a longer trip than this.

DECLARED RUNNERS 11

TFRHHHII BHA-

2022:NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR

Hood worn ﬁrst time by No. 8. Tongue Strap worn ﬁrst time by No. 9. Hood worn by No. 3. Tongue Strap worn by No. 5.

Running for the ﬁrst time since Wind Surgery No. 5.

Stewards Note:

SOLOMOON: Following its run on 31/1/2023 it was reported that the trainer could not explain the poor run.

HIM MALAYA: Following its run on 27/12/2022 it was reported that the trainer could not explain the poor run.

Probable S.P’s: 6-5 Despereaux (FR), 6-1 Georgi Girl (IRE), 13-2 Him Malaya (FR), 15-2 Jina (FR), 14-1 Solomoon (GB), 33-1 Nickelforce (IRE), Grumpy Rosie (GB), 50-1 Amalﬁ Skyline (GB), Scratch Card (IRE), 100-1 Milton Boy (FR), Damask (FR)

PLAY SMARTER

DESPEREAUX might have gone close with a better leap at the last in a much stronger race than this at Huntingdon 8 weeks ago and looks the one to beat with more improvement on the cards. Him Malaya is probably worth sticking with for Paul Nicholls, while Georgi Girl also remains with potential.