Paul Ferguson has two selections from Taunton for us on Thursday; Captain Kelly in the 5.20 and Rjanagan at 6.50 . Compare odds and bet.
Taunton’s Bathwick Tyres Handicap Hurdle looks a competitive heat, with impressive recent Wetherby winner Ulys Du Charmil heading the market.
Alan King’s five-year-old is just one with reaonable claims here, however, and the vote goes to Rajnagan (6:50) who returns to hurdles under optimum conditions.
The quicker the ground the better for Paul Webber’s useful dual-purpose performer, who was last sighted in a decent novices’ chase at Cheltenham in October. He had earlier won a handicap chase off a 1lb higher mark than he races off today and at 16/1 (with Bet365 and Hills this morning) he looks worthy of a small each-way interest.
Later on the card The Pirate’s Queen sets a fair standard in the mares bumper, but Welcometothejungle shaped well on debut too and it could be an above-average contest of its type.
Therefore, the other selection on the card comes in the opening maiden hurdle, in the shape of Captain Kelly (5:20) who ought to be hard to beat for Paul Nicholls and Will Biddick.
The six-year-old might not be one of the stars down at Ditcheat, but he won a jumpers bumper on his penultimate start and showed enough promise on his latest outing at Doncaster to suggest he can win a small race over timber.
This shouldn’t take much winning and, with the step back up to 3m and better ground in his favour, the son of Oscar can get favourite backers off to the best possible start.
Thursday’s selections:
5:20 Taunton: Captain Kelly; 4/7 William Hill
6:50 Taunton: Rjanagan (each-way) 16/1 Bet365
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Last Year’s Book Results – Leading Prospects:
- SPRINTER SACRE – Unbeaten – winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- SIMONSIG – Winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- CINDERS AND ASHES – 10/1 winner of Supreme Novices Hurdle
- BOBS WORTH – 9/2 winner of the RSA Chase
- MENORAH & SILVINIACO CONTI – Both Aintree Winners
- SIR DES CHAMPS – Unbeaten inc 3/1 Jewson Cheltenham Winner
- FINGAL BAY – Won 4 times inc Challow Hurdle
- RAYA STAR – 10/3 winner at Wetherby, 12/1 Ladbroke Hurdle winner, 15/2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner
- AMBION WOOD – 14/1 EBF Final Sandown winner
- CHAMPION COURT – 6/1 G2 Dipper Novices Chase winner
- PALACE JESTER – 14/1 winner at FFos Las
- SWINCOMBE FLAME – Hat-trick winner inc Lanzarote Hurdle at 9/2
- TEAFOR THREE – 5/1 NH Cheltenham Chase winner (Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
