Racecards
16:50 Taunton
Royal Devon Yeomanry Open Hunters' Chase (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £3,000 added
- Winner: £1,978
- 2nd: £608
- 3rd: £304
- Form 11-71PP
- Age 9
- Weight 12-4
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer G R I Smyly
- Jockey Mr M Wall
took keen hold, pressed leader, went right 8th, lost 2nd before 10th, disputing 3rd and held when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
- Form 5-2U333
- Age 8
- Weight 12-4
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A Hobbs
- Jockey Mr A Ralph
held up in rear, headway 6th, chased leaders 10th went 2nd next, led narrowly 3 out, mistake next, soon headed, no chance with winner
- Form 221014
- Age 13
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Mrs A S Hodges
- Jockey Philip Prince
held up in touch, dropped to rear 9th, ridden 11th, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th next, plugged on
King Cyrus (IRE)
666- Form 7225/13-
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Mrs Emma Oliver
- Jockey Mr M Woodward
led, went left 4 out, narrowly headed 3 out, led again as leader hit 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well
- Form 225381
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer E Walker
- Jockey Mr I Chanin
in touch, mistake 6th, chased leaders 9th, chased winner before 10th until next, close up until ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off
- Form 7322P5
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Mrs C Hitch
- Jockey Mr J Guerriero
held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 3 out, never on terms with leading duo
- Form 21-1P2F
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey Mr R Woollacott
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
Verdict
Fresh Air And Fun was a decent third to Good Company over 2m4f at Ludlow last month but there still looks to be plenty of life in veteran DISTANT THUNDER, who gets 4lb from the eight-year-old and will appreciate the step up in distance having stayed on when it was far too late over shorter at Sandown last month. He is preferred to Nobody Tells Me, who easily won a minor contest between the flags eight days ago, and Shannon Springs who would have been placed again at Milborne St Andrew last month had he not unseated his rider at the last. Sheriff Roscoe takes too many chances, however, and King Cyrus will probably need this.
Formwatch
City Heights (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Not fluent in rear, mistake 3rd, well behind 12th, pulled after 2 out, in a race won by Ballycarney (11-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sep, 11 ran.
Fresh Air And Fun (IRE) 9-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led next, ridden and hit 2 out, blundered and headed last, soon lost 2nd, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Good Company (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gs in Feb.
Distant Thunder (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, went modest 4th 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 12, 43l behind Just Amazing (12-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (5) gs in Feb.
King Cyrus (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened and hit next, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Sparkling Montjeu (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May '09.
Nobody Tells Me (FR) 1-4 (12-0) Went 2nd 9; led 13; sn clr; easy, won at Kingston St Mary 3m ptp gd beating Hold On Harry (12-0) by 25l, 4 ran.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 21l behind Lansdowne Princess (9-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Aug.
Sheriff Roscoe 9-1 (12-0) In touch, left 3rd at 10th, went 2nd next, fell 13th, in a race won by Just Amazing (12-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Shannon Springs (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Ap; 2nd when ur last, in a race won by I Hear Thunder (12-0) at Milborne St Andrew 3m ptp gs in Feb, 7 ran.