ROBIN - Taunton 4.25 Handicap Hurdle - Class 4 - 3 miles - 14 run - Soft

 

A competitive field but on the soft Going that could well be heavy before the off, I am happy to take on the top of the market.

 

Rivers Corner hosed up at Wincanton last time but gets a 10lbs penalty, a "could be anything type" but this is a deceptively tougher Right Handed track than Wincanton and if you want a win-saver at around 5/1 feel free, but I'll focus the each way punts elsewhere.

 

The Midwife was equally impressive at Market Rasen over two and half miles but the big worry would be deteriorating ground as the excellent Trainer did attribute the win that day to better ground and may indeed have a very sporting second string at 6-7 x the Odds of The Midwife.  Stitalfield is another promising type for Jonjo but has also not really got any proven form in these conditions. Tough Approach from the always dangerous Pipe yard in these parts is also upped in trip but no heavy ground credentials as yet. You can add Tiny Tetley from the Hobbs yard to this list as well. This trio from big yards are definitely not lightly discounted and I'm sure we'll see wins from them in the not too distant future. 

 

At the big price end of the market it would not be a surprise to see a big run from Raddon Top, it had a golden spell in 2022 running up a treble of wins off 99-103 and 107 and this dual purpose horse is slowly dropping down the handicap but top weight of 12 stones is a lot to lug round here in the mud against fresher legs.

 

I'm most keen though on MY LAST OSCAR, a very lightly raced Course and Distance winner who won last time off a mark of 102 and the 6lbs penalty does not put me off. They run sparingly and will want to take advantage of this opportunity I'm sure. LITTLE ELSE, is also a Course and Distance winner in soft conditions last April, it won off 86 that day and followed up off a mark of 89, it needed a recent run but off a mark of 96 with the assistance of the under-rated Rex Dinge; I'll be very disappointed if this one isn't running a place at least.

 

At big odds, MY GIRL KATIE for the aforementioned Grace Harris (The Midwife trainer) was twice placed in this month last year off marks of 105, this mare is out of form in reality but a mark of 92 with a 3lbs claim really does jump off the page and at 33/1 plus could give us a sporting run for our shrapnel.

 

Tips (1) My Last Oscar / (2) Little Else / (3s) My Girl Katie

 

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