I really believed that Silky Wilkie was going to bounce back to form after not having his time in the sun for many years.
He had a good stall to get a prominent position, and it looked like the rider wanted to make the running. The winner came from a wider stall, cut ahead of Silky Wilkie and got an uncontested lead. Silky Wilkie was one-paced after the final bend and struggled to land a blow, like all of the horses.
Doctor Khan Junion ran well despite a market drift. He made the running, which would've been ideal if he hadn't been as keen as he was throughout the first half. He found pressure, but not enough to beat the horses around him.
American Sniper 3/1 (1pt) – Taunton 3.00
After potentially giving a chance to Time Interval on a good handicap mark, I ended up siding with American Sniper.
American Sniper hasn't won for a while, but returned to form with a solid effort to finish second to Celtic Art last time out over today's course and distance.
Celtic Art caused a minor shock at 12/1, but he was on a good mark, and I think that American Sniper ran well. He made a late mistake and would've been much closer.
There is a big swing in the weights between the two horses, mainly from a 6lb increase to Celtic Art and Rian Corcoran removing 7lbs on American Sniper. When adding both together, there is a 12lb swing, which should be enough to reverse the form.
There are others who could get involved, but knowing American Sniper has won at this level and better in the past, he was the one I liked the look of.
East End Girl 9/2 (1pt) – Taunton 4.00
I thought this was a really shoddy race, and it wouldn't take much to win if East End Girl was on her A-Game.
There could easily be a well-handicapped horse in the form of Getarose, hailing from the Evan Williams stable on handicap debut. However, if there isn't a lightly raced horse ahead of the handicapper, East End Girl stood out the most.
Her wins over hurdles have come on good ground, but she has a pedigree to suggest soft ground will be fine. Taunton should be getting a fair amount of rain in the afternoon, which should turn the ground to good-to-soft at the very least.
She is well below her last winning mark of 97, and I thought she shaped quite nicely in what looked like a stronger race than this.
Alistair Ralph is having a decent season so far and has had two winners from ten runners since Boxing Day.
Largy Belter 3/1 (1pt) – Ffos Las 1.40
I tipped up Juby Ball last time out on his chasing debut at Carlisle. He scraped home under a strong James Bowen and definitely wasn't suited by the lack of jumping in the home straight. He could easily be well-handicapped, but I've been following Largy Belter very closely.
Like a fool, I tipped up Largy Belter on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter in a strong race won by Lump Sum. I thought that since Dan Skelton skipped any hurdle races with him and went straight to fences, looking like he had something up his sleeve. It turns out that they were probably getting him ready for handicaps.
Since then, he ran against Lulamba on his chasing debut, and was never put in the race like the Uttoxeter race. However, last time out, he showed a lot more. He finished 3rd/4, but was only 3.5L behind the winner.
Now tackling handicaps for the first time, I thought he was worth a shot again off a fairly low mark of 124.
Itseemslikeit 11/10 (2pt) – Ffos Las 2.40
Thursday is a busy day, with a very rare four-runner thread. I've always tried to stick to my gut, and that's why there are four fancies put up today.
I've tipped up Hunter Legend this season, and he stunk the place out. I thought he had no chance in his race last time out, and for most of the race it looked to be that way. He found a second wind and plugged on to finish third, so he might be bouncing back to form.
Itseemslikeit won on his chasing debut, and relished the change to fences up to 3m and on testing ground. All of which, he gets again today.
The handicapper has put him up 7lbs for his victory, and if putting in a repeat performance, I think that won't be enough to stop him.
GambleAware