12:30

from Taunton Racecard - Weatherbys Portman Cup Day

4:30

First Race 12.30

The British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Race (Class 4) (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

for novice four, five, six and seven yrs old x Total race value £5800 Owners Prize Money. 1st £2873, 2nd £952, 3rd £476, 4th £238. (Penalty Value £3768.84)

2m 3f 1y

Race Description Novice races tend to be for younger horses that are still learning their way over hurdles or fences and allow them to race against each other before graduating up the ranks. Horses are classed as a novice if they have yet to win a race, under the respective code, prior to the official start of the season, towards the end of April although for wins between 1st March and the end of the season they may continue to contest novice races until the end of the following October. This particular two miles and three furlongs novices’ hurdle race is for horses aged between four and seven-years-old which have not won more than three hurdle races.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder

colours no horse

1 ALAPHILIPPE (IRE) (32) 4P1-111

Br B g Morozov (USA) - Oscar Bird (IRE)

O Mr Nic Brereton

B Bryan Mangan

J

Jockey

T

Trainer

S

Sponsor

age st-lb 7 11-12

Paddy Brennan J

Fergal O’Brien, Cheltenham T Dunraven Group of Companies S

TIMEFORM VIEW Irish point winner who is unbeaten in a bumper and 2 hurdles since joining this yard. Likely he has more to offer and even a double penalty may not stop him. TFRHHHHI BHA128 2 SEELOTMOREBUSINESS (IRE) (75) 11 6 11-8 Br B g Sholokhov (IRE) - Land of Pride (IRE) Bryony Frost J O The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T B Ms Mags Melody Morson Group S

TIMEFORM VIEW Created a good impression when making a winning start in Ffos Las bumper and overcame inexperience to maintain unbeaten record switched to hurdling at Chepstow 11 weeks ago. Will improve up in trip. TFRHHHHI BHA3 STELLAR MAGIC (IRE) (24) 1-1 CD 6 11-8 Br B g Arctic Cosmos (USA) - Inter Alia (IRE) Tom O’Brien J O Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs, Minehead T B Michael Ronayne Allseasons Bloodstock S

TIMEFORM VIEW Point winner who justifield strong support to make a winning hurdling debut (9/4) over this C&D 24 days ago, showed his inexperience when hitting the front suggesting there’s a fair bit more to come. TFRHHHHI BHA4 AERONISI (IRE) (86) 5 5 11-2 Br B g Kalanisi (IRE) - Carrigeen Lonicera (IRE) Alan Johns J O Aircraft Tool Hire Ltd Tim Vaughan, Cowbridge T B Mrs R. H. Lalor Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEW Looked one for the longer term when 50/1, fifth of 11 in novice hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) on NH debut 86 days ago, merely plugging on. TFRHHIII BHA5 GET ON JEREMY (IRE) (47) P 6 11-2 Br B g Jeremy (USA) - Sitetanic (IRE) Micheal Nolan J O Mr J. Grant Cann Grant Cann, Lower Hamswell T B James O’Connor Fraser Bush Industries S

TIMEFORM VIEW Made an inauspicious start over hurdles when pulled up at Plumpton (20.5f, soft, 150/1) on NH debut 47 days ago. Faces another struggle here. TFRHIIII BHA6 GREEN DOLPHIN (IRE) (382) 315/P5- 7 11-2 Br B g Oscar (IRE) - Shamrock Miss (IRE) Lorcan Murtagh (3) J O Mr Michael Pescod Harry Fry, Seaborough T B Diarmuid and Michael O’Connor Chibley Farm Partnership S

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful winner in bumpers. Strong in betting but proved a major disappointment when pulled up on Aintree hurdle bow and didn’t show much when a well beaten fifth over C&D 12 months ago. TFRHHHII BHA7 MECHELEN STAR (GB) (157) P 5 11-2 Br B g Malinas (GER) - Lily Lenor (IRE) Lilly Pinchin (5) J O Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Shaun Lycett, Witney T B Kristian Strangeway & Dan Gilbert Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEW Malinas gelding who could hardly have shown any less when pulled up in novice hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, soft) on NH debut in August. Readily passed over. TFRHIIII BHA-

8 PORT O’CLOCK (IRE) (321) 5F/P11- 6 11-2

Br Ch g Sans Frontieres (IRE) - Rever Up (IRE) James Best J O John Gardener Torben Hughes Jackie du Plessis, Saltash T B Mr S. Wafer

TIMEFORM VIEW Point winner who made promising hurdling bow when sixth of 12 in novice at Leicester (20.5f, soft) in November. However went backwards from that effort a fortnight ago so probably best watched. TFRHHIII BHA10 SAM BARTON (GB) (59) 3-52 BF 6 11-2 Br B g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) - Bartons Bride (IRE) Ben Jones (3) J O Mr Trevor Hemmings Emma Lavelle, Marlborough T B H.R.H. The Princess Royal Trust Inns Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEW Black Sam Bellamy gelding who shaped well sole outing in bumper and has gone well in a couple of starts over hurdles, second of 13 in novice hurdle at Hereford (19.7f, soft) 59 days ago. Place claims. TFRHHHII BHA11 THE BOAT (IRE) (55) 00 5 11-2 Br B g Dylan Thomas (IRE) - Whenever Wherever (IRE) Conor Ring (3) J O Mr R. E. R. Williams Evan Williams, Llancarfan T B Coolrain Stables

TIMEFORM VIEW Looked one for the longer term when well held both starts. TFRHIIII BHA-

12 TILE TAPPER (GB) (21) 3/41-323 Br B g Malinas (GER) - Darn Hot O Cotswold Stone Supplies Ltd B No Illusions Partnership

7 11-2

Bryan Carver (3) J Chris Honour, Ashburton T Cotswold Stone Supplies S

TIMEFORM VIEW Bumper winner who made positive start over hurdles when second to the unbeaten Metier at Ascot in November. Much further behind that rival in Grade 1 next time but should make his presence felt here. TFRHHHHH BHA130 13 MYFANWY’S JEWEL (GB) (14) 0P0 6 10-9 Br B m Arvico (FR) - Lady Myfanwy Cillin Leonard (7) J O Best by Miles Alexandra Dunn, Wellington T B PB Miles & Mrs M Miles

TIMEFORM VIEW Went with little encouragement in a Ludlow bumper on debut in November and little impact both starts over hurdles so far. TFRHIIII BHA-

DECLARED RUNNERS 13 2020: BUTTERWICK BROOK (IRE) 5 11 2 Jonjo O’Neill Jr 9-4 (Colin Tizzard) 12 ran

Hood, Tongue Strap worn first time by No. 8. Stewards Note: REVELS HILL: Following its run on 9/1/2021 it was reported that the horse stopped quickly. SAM BARTON: Following its run on 25/11/2020 it was reported that the horse lost a shoe. Probable S.P’s: 11-4 Tile Tapper (GB), 7-2 Seelotmorebusiness (IRE), 5-1 Alaphilippe (IRE), Stellar Magic (IRE), 7-1 Sam Barton (GB), 25-1 Green Dolphin (IRE), 50-1 Aeronisi (IRE), Revels Hill (IRE), 150-1 Mechelen Star (GB), 250-1 Get On Jeremy (IRE), 300-1 Port O’Clock (IRE), The Boat (IRE), Myfanwy’s Jewel (GB)

PLAY SMARTER

An intriguing opener in which Chris Honour’s TILE TAPPER gets the vote to open his account in this sphere having not been disgraced behind the unbeaten Metier on both starts over timber so far. He faces some serious opposition however, with Seelotmorebusiness, Alaphilippe and Stellar Magic all looking sure-fire improvers, and they won’t allow the selection to have it all his own way.