Follow The Money: Soleil to shine at Taunton?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 01 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Will you back Soleil D'avril at Taunton (above)?

"Soleil D’avril has been well supported, moving in to [4.4] from [5.3]."

Today's Follow The Money movers come from Southwell, Ludlow and Taunton.

We start with Southwell's 14:20 mile handicap where Samasana has been weak, moving out to [2.48] from [1.87]. The selection arrives in fine form, having won her last three starts. However, she is now 17lbs higher than when first winning and also steps up in class. With a couple of in-form rivals holding good claims in the line up, punters are looking to get this short priced favourite beat.

In Ludlow's 16:00 staying handicap chase there's been a good move for Maraafeq, moving from [11.5] in to [4.8]. This selection has slipped to a very reasonable handicap mark and was a course and distance winner last season. Wearing first time cheekpieces and representing the in form Venetia Williams, he also receives plenty of weight from all of his rivals. He has run well fresh before so he should not be rusty after a near three month absence and a much improved run looks likely later this afternoon.

Finally, in Taunton's 16:10 handicap hurlde, Soleil D'avril has been well supported, moving in to [4.4] from [5.3]. This six-year-old ran his best race over hurdles last time out when runner up in a similar race and is now just 1lb higher. With his stable in good form, there should be more to come now and this race looks easier on paper. He looks set to get his head in front later today.

Recommended Bets
Lay Samasana @ [2.48] Southwell 14:20
Back Maraafeq @ [4.8] Ludlow 16:00
Back Soleil D'avril @ [4.4] Taunton 16:10

Today's FTM selections come from the cards at Folkestone and Southwell....

Today's movers come from Catterick and Lingfield....

Welcome to follow the money for Monday February 27. Today's movers are from the cards at Plumpton and Wolverhampton....

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Taunton Placepot: Tuesday January 31

Daily Placepots / Phil Thompson / 31 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Today's Placepot action comes from Taunton

"We will also take Aather who is looking increasingly well-handicapped and ran well enough on his reappearance at Cheltenham (still close up two out) to suggest he is well capable of being involved here..."

Phil Thompson has a crack at the Taunton Placepot...

13:40 - Now, a 16-runner Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle is not normally a situation in which I would encourage a banker, but it will be extremely disappointing if That's Some Milan cannot make the frame here. A former point-winner, the selection should be suited by the step up to three miles today and is open to further improvement on his handicap debut.

14:10 - Next up is the novice hurdle and Dildar, who showed fair form on the Flat in France, is likely to go off a short-priced favourite here but he must be included given his connections and the fact he receives weight all round. This is Dildar's hurdling debut, however, so we will also side with Constant Contact who shaped well in a very strong event at Newbury last month and is entitled to improve for that experience.

14:40 - Sanctuaire is set to go off a red-hot favourite here and he was clearly the best of these over hurdles. He is far from straightforward, however, so we will take both Easter Metoer and Shammick Boy who have both won over fences this season and look the most likely to prevail should the favourite's temperament let him down.

15:10 - A competitive handicap hurdle follows and we will look to side with two. Ted Spread respresents the combination of Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh and looks set for a bold show on his handicap debut after chasing home Grumeti here last month. We will also take Aather who is looking increasingly well-handicapped and ran well enough on his reappearance at Cheltenham (still close up two out) to suggest he is well capable of being involved here.

15:40 - Another handicap hurdle and we will bank on the Venetia Williams-trained Val Mondo who will hopefully be able to transfer the ability he showed on the Flat in Germany to hurdles. He represents banker material in the fifth.

16:10 - Having got this far, it would be folly to take a gamble in the last so we side with two once again. Wessex King, who won a similar event at Stratford on his penultimate start, will be given another chance after disappointing last time. Humbel Ben comes with risks attached given his below par effort at Exeter last time but, prior to that, he had shaped as if ahead of his current handicap mark and this race could be run to suit.

Selections:

13:40 - 6
14:10 - 4, 14
14:40 - 1, 2
15:10 - 5, 7
15:40 - 8
16:10 - 6, 10

Lines=16

Plumpton is the venue for today's placepot......

Ffos Las is the venue for Sunday's placepot perm.......

There is better quality racing at both Cheltenham and Doncaster this afternoon but Timeform's Joe Szekeres thinks that he has found a winning placepot permutation at Lingfield......

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Timeform Daily: Tuesday, Taunton 15:10

Race of the Day / Timeform / 31 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Taunton is the venue for Tuesday's Race of the Day.

"A mark of 120 could easily underestimate smart Flat performer Ted Spread, and he can go in at the second time of asking for Paul Nicholls..."

Timeform preview an excellent handicap hurdle at Taunton on Tuesday...

Grey Gold was a Hereford novice hurdle winner last season who took form to new level when making winning reappearance in 17f Bangor handicap in November. This tougher off 9 lb higher but could have more to give.

Monetary Fund is a fairly useful hurdler who largely performed with credit in some competitive handicaps for Nicky Henderson last term. Returns to track with his new yard in form and no shock if he goes close.

Pantxoa has still not got many miles on the clock and returned with a pair of good placed efforts in competitive 2m handicap hurdles. Excuses can be made for latest run and no surprise if he bounces back.

Pascha Bere is a useful hurdler who made a pleasing return to action when fourth to Featherbed Lane at Ascot. Excuses for both runs since (given plenty to do last time) and chances are he remains in form.

Ted Spread was smart on the Flat up to 1¾m for Mark Tompkins. Promise both starts over hurdles, joining Paul Nicholls before second to Grumeti over C&D last month. Tongue tied now and almost certainly more to come.

Ifyouletmefinish is a bumper winner who has shaped with promise when placed in pair of novice hurdles over C&D in recent weeks, chasing home smart Pearl Swan last time. Another who could easily have more to give.

Aather is a pretty useful hurdler on his day. Edged down weights after a winless 2010/11 campaign for Alan Fleming and should be sharper for last month's return. Yard off cold list at Wincanton recently.

Wings of Smoke progressed well over hurdles last summer, winning novice at Aintree and fourth in Hexham handicap. Travelled well long way under testing conditions on recent return and this test more suitable.

Double Handful was fair on the Flat and switch to Lawney Hill has seen him translate that to hurdles, bolting up twice this month (C&D first occasion). Higher mark in stronger race demands more but could be up to it.

Sacrilege is an ungenuine hurdler who ran respectably when third in 2m Newbury handicap last March. No impact on recent return from break at Sandown, though, and likely to find this too competitive.

Bathwick Brave finished placed in both outings in bumpers and on 3 of 4 starts in novice hurdles. Didn't seem to face a visor when well beaten on recent handicap bow and no surprise to see headgear off now. Still early days.

Cantabilly has found winning difficult in recent times and fact he was only third in a claimer over C&D last time suggests he's likely to find it tough going back in a competitive handicap.

Leopard Hills' 4 wins over hurdles have come in selling company. Well held in handicap over C&D a month ago and same fate awaits here in all probability.

Piroulet is an ex-French gelding who held every chance when jockey caught unawares on run-in at Exeter a year ago. Not progressed since, including in blinkers on recent handicap bow. Tongue tie also added now.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Ted Spread
2. Double Handful
3. Monetary Fund

Timeform Verdict: A rise in the weights shouldn't prevent Double Handful from going close in his hat-trick bid but a mark of 120 could easily underestimate smart Flat performer Ted Spread, and he can go in at the second time of asking for Paul Nicholls. Monetary Fund and Pantxoa also make the shortlist.

Timeform take a look at the runners in this handicap hurdle over an extended three mile at Plumpton......

Timeform takes a look over a small but select field for the Irish Champion Hurdle, the second Grade 1 on Leopardstown's Sunday card......

Timeform run the rule over the three-mile handicap hurdle at Ffos Las......

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Taunton

Going Report / Editor / 31 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Racecourse: Taunton
First Race Time: 13:40
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Other Information: Dry overnight. -1.9ºC at 6.40am but no problems anticipated at this stage.

Racecourse: Southwell First Race Time: 1.30pm Going: Standard Other Information: Dry overnight...

Racecourse: Folkestone First Race Time: 13:50 Going: Chase course - Good Hurdle course - Good to Soft, Soft in places Other Information: RACING GOES AHEAD. 0ºC overnight. Cloudy today with temperature 3ºC....

Racecourse Ayr First Race Time 12.50pm Going Soft, Heavy in places Other Information RACING GOES AHEAD. 0.2mm of rain in the last 24 hours. -1ºC overnight, +1ºC at 6.30am. Temperature forecast to rise from 10am to a maximum of 4ºC....

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Taunton

Going Report / Editor / 12 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Racecourse: Taunton
First Race Time: 16:45
Going: Firm, good to firm in a few places
Other Information: Dry overnight. Dry, sunny day forecast. Whole course to be verti-drained by racing.

Racecourse: Southwell First Race Time: 14:10 Going: Standard...

Racecourse: Wolverhampton First Race Time: 14:20 Going: Standard...

Racecourse: Folkestone First Race Time: 14:30 Going: Good to firm (watered) Other Information: Immeasurable rain overnight. Dry, sunny day forecast. 5mm of irrigation put on course yesterday....

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Taunton Placepot: Thursday March 3

Daily Placepots / Adam Brookes / 03 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Taunton provides the back drop for today's Placepot.

"Catholic Hill looks to hold very strong claims after his staying-on second to Rileyev in a similar race at Hereford last time."

Modest racing it may be, but today's card at Taunton looks an ideal opportunity to scoop the riches that the Placepot has to offer for just a minimal outlay.

14:20 - Surviving the first leg usually appears more difficult than it need be, but in this case we expect Romulus d'Artaix to produce the goods and allow us the privilege of saving lines that we can then use later on. A fairly useful bumper horse, Romulus d'Artaix impressed on his hurdling debut when beaten a short head by Radetsky March at Warwick, and if he copes with the slight drop back in trip, he should account for the well-regarded Merehead and Henry King.

14:50 - A tricky beginners' chase in that there are no consistent winners in the field, and therefore we turn to Fin Vin de Leu, who is up with the best of these on ratings and is open to improvement. Admittedly, his close second behind Quantitativeeasing may flatter him to a degree, but he was a fairly useful hurdler and still has the potential to match that form over fences, provided his jumping improves. The consistent Patsy Finnegan is included as an insurance policy.

15:20 - As we saved on the first leg, it seems logical to go in mob -handed in this handicap hurdle, with The Boss, Red Mile and Kaybeew all having good chances. The Boss remains unexposed and looks the type to improve for the step up to three miles, whilst Red Mille produced his best effort over hurdles last time and still appears to be learning. Kaybeew won a similar race well last time so must also come under consideration.

15:50 - Our second single-selection race of the day comes in the novices' handicap chase as Catholic Hill looks to hold very strong claims after his staying-on second to Rileyev in a similar race at Hereford last time. After only three runs over fences he could still be ahead of the handicapper, and in a race seemingly full of exposed types.

16:20 - A tight handicap hurdle to navigate now but Prince of Denial should give us a great chance to get through it after his promising second in a similar race over course and distance last time. That performance confirmed the impression that his first win is just around the corner and he's a confident selection to run into the placings again. The consistent She's On The Case has been off for a year but has the ability to get into the mix.

16:50 - At this time of year, you'd struggle to find a meeting where the final leg isn't a hunters' chase so we can't have any complaints, even if such races tend to be minefields. Only two of these have run under Rules this season, one of which is the consistent veteran Whizzaar, who should give us a fighting chance of getting a return.

Selections: 12 lines

14:20 - 8
14:50 - 5, 7
15:20 - 3, 4, 8
15:50 - 7
16:20 - 2, 8
16:50 - 2

Modest racing it may be, but today's card at Taunton looks an ideal opportunity to scoop the riches that the Placepot has to offer for just a minimal outlay....

Timeform's newest recruit, Phil Thompson, has a crack at the Bangor placepot.......

We're kicking off the month with a tilt at the Lingfield Placepot......

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Two at Taunton

Timeform Radio Tip / Martin Dixon / 03 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Merehead master the Taunton hurdles?

Timeform's Martin Dixon makes the picks and it's races over Taunton's obstacles that have caught his eye

It's a time of year that tends to be relatively quiet in punting terms with the big festivals on the horizon. But there's a blend of jumps and all-weather this afternoon and a couple of good betting opportunities.

My best bet of the afternoon comes in the opening novice hurdle at Taunton, in the shape of Merehead. This looks a typical West Country novice, with the majority of the field more long-term prospects who will be learning today, and I think Merehead will be ideally suited by today's conditions. Paul Nicholls' 5-y-o has travelled strongly for a long way on both hurdles outings to date and just seemed to get tired on testing ground at Chepstow last time. The emphasis will be more on speed this afternoon and the selection could well have too much pace for market rival Romulus D'artaix.

I'll stick to Taunton for the next best as well, with Fountains Flypast making plenty of appeal in the 16:20. Prince of Denial is solid at the head of the betting but Anthony Honeyball's representative is potentially chucked in on his winning bumper form and is worth chancing at around [7.0].

Recommended Bets:
Back Merehead @ [4.0] in the 14:20 at Taunton
Back Fountains Flypast @ [7.0] in the 16:20 at Taunton

Timeform's Martin Dixon makes the picks and it's races over Taunton's obstacles that have caught his eye...

Terry Norman has a pair to follow today...

David Cleary aims to brighten up Tuesday afternoon with a pair of promising bets......

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