Taunton and Lingfield

the long run of Grade One races has come to an end, but we still have quite a decent card today at Taunton, featuring a listed mares novice hurdle at 16.00 CET. We expect the two "Taras" to have this between them. Tara Mist (Henry Daly/ Jake Greenall) was a smart bumper horse who won her only hurdle race so far despite jumping badly. She can be expected to improve on that, but needs to if she is to beat Tara Point (Paul Nicholls/ Sam Twiston-Davies), who ran an excellent race last time when a close third at Sandown to a hurdler who was beaten a neck in a Grade One yesterday. A repeat of that form should certainly be good enough and she can contribute to a successful afternoon for the Nicholls/ Sam T-D Team, who can also take the novice hurdle at 15.00 with German-bred Amanto (penalised Aso the obvious danger here) and the handicap chase at 16.30 with Howlongisafoot, runner-up at Sandown last time and meeting lesser opposition here.

Best race on a poor card at LIngfield´s all-weather track is the mile conditions race at 15.20. With only 5 runners this is however not a good betting race. Beach Bar (Will Knight/ Adam Kirby) is the likely favourite, but he has not run since June and we prefer those with more recent form. Brocklebank (Simon Dow/ Tomas Harrington) won at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day, but we would not be surprised to see Rebellious Guoest (George Margarson/ George Baker), who finished last then, turn the tables this time; he is much better off at the weighhts and the furlong shorter distance should also suit him more.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Anastazia - Mo Henry - Arabian Bride
2. Race: Bobby Benton - Sixties Love - Lynngale
3. Race: Shorana - Ocean Boulevard - Salmon Sushi
4. Race: Ambella - Dream And Hope - Rocky`S Pride
5. Race: Tournament - Brocklebank - Beach Bar
6. Race: Chauvelin - Deinonychus - Zinnobar
7. Race: Moulin Rouge - Youm Jamil - Top Set
8. Race: Rock Charm - Sabre Rock - Rezwaan