Jumps racing at Taunton and Towcester

There are some small fields at Taunton today, but some quite useful performers will be in action, notably Spanish Conquest (Philip Hobbs/ Rhys Flint), going for a quick hat-trick in the main event, a handicap for novice hurdlers at 17.00 CET. Spanish Conquest, whose dam is a half-sister to Silvano and Sabiango, has created a tremendous impression with his latest victories and is still seriously well handicapped. Stable companion Hot Diamond, mount of Richard Johnson, and Mutual Friend (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) also have good form, but must give him lots of weight and Spanish Conquest looks as if he can run up a sequence. There are only 5 runners, if they all show up, in the novices handicap chase half an hour earlier, and they include Peter Pole (Tim Vaughan/ Richard Johnson), who was an easy winner yesterday and can concede lumps of weight to Sulas Legend (Neil Mulholland/ Felix de Giles) and Fire and Rain (Emma Lavelle/ Noel Fehily), both of whom are also easy recent winn ers.

German Group winner Persian Storm (Gary and Jamie Moore) was very disappointing last season for André Fabre and has been well beaten on all starts for his present connections, but he can be given another chance in the maiden hurdle at 15.50, where Art Trend (Paul Nicholls/ Christian Williams) and Kings Alchemist (Mark Usher/ Dave Crosse) look to be the only opponents worth worrying about. The fields are much larhger at TGowcester, but there is very little quality on view here. Tony McCoy has some promising rides, including Johns Square in first time blinkers at 15.,40 and Matcho Pierji, both in JP McManus colours for trainer Jonjo O´´Neill, and the Queen´s Midsummer Magic in the mares novice hurdle at 17.10 for trainer Nicky Henderson, who has Henry Daly´s pair Flutter Bye (Adrian Tinkler) and Speed Bonnie Boat (Mark Bradburne) to beat.