15:05 Taunton

Tuesday 18 February 2025

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:1016:45

South West Rail Solutions Ltd Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 4m 58.7s

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Selected odds by:

A Great Excuse¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Harrison| T: F Brennan

66/1

Failed to complete all 4 starts in points but some promise under Rules, stepping forward from hurdles debut run when seventh in 14-runner Wetherby maiden (19.7f) 17 days ago. Will have handicaps as an option after this and they ought to suit better.

Form: 6P3-057

Bells Of Ufford^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

33/1

Modest form on second of 2 starts in bumpers and ran to a similar level both hurdle outings, shaping like a non-stayer when ninth of 14 in maiden at Wetherby (19.7f) 17 days ago. Another who will be better suited by handicaps.

Form: 1-7549

Catch On Me¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

8/1

5-y-o who won 13.5f minor event on Flat in France last May and stepped up on hurdles debut effort when third of 12 in 4-y-o event at Auteuil (17.4f) in September, staying on from the rear. New yard do well with such recruits and he's very much of interest with further progress likely.

Form: 53

Devon Dude³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107

11/2

Dartmouth gelding who is bred to stay well but displayed enough speed to win 4-runner bumper at Chepstow (16f, heavy) last March. Promise on first 2 starts over hurdles prior to finishing down the field on handicap debut at Windsor (20f) 4 weeks ago. More required back in maiden company.

Form: 1-437

Duffry Trixs²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey

10/1

Runner-up only outing in Irish points (Jan 2024) and readily surpassed form showed only start in bumpers when second in 6-runner Plumpton maiden (20.5f) 3 weeks ago, held only late on. A repeat gives him good claims of being involved again.

Form: 2-02

Fortunate Fella¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls

40/1

Placed all 3 starts in Irish points and having hinted at promise when fifth on hurdles bow at Hereford (19.7f) in December, he wasn't in the same form when fifth of 10 in a C&D novice 2 weeks ago. Would be an interesting one in handicaps on the back of this.

Form: 233-955

Maximum Offers⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| BF

9/2

£105,000 4-y-o, Getaway gelding. Runner-up only outing in Irish points (Nov 2023) and solid start under Rules when third in a Carlisle bumper (17f, soft) in December. Of interest now hurdling, particularly if the market spoke favourably for him again.

Form: 2-3

The Final Word^t1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

1/1

Successful only start in Irish points and offered much more than he had in a bumper in the autumn when third in a 13-runner C&D novice 6 weeks ago, for largely hands-and-heels ride. Open to improvement with a tongue tie now reached for.

Form: 1-73

Tongaknoxie⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

28/1

Casamento gelding. Midfield only start in bumpers at Chepstow in November and looked one for later on when fourth of 10 in novice hurdle (10/3) at Hereford (19.7f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 69 days ago.

Form: 74

Auntie Maggie¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: David Noonan| T: A Ralph| OR: 76

66/1

Third on sole start in Irish points and showed some promise when third on second start in maiden hurdles at Bangor (16.6f) in May. Not yet built on that in 2 handicap runs upon returning this winter and she's hard to fancy back in maiden company.

Form: 3-83764

Briery Bee^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: Noel Williams

28/1

Made the frame both starts in bumpers and not without promise in pair of mares' novice hurdles upon returning this season. Still, handicaps will likely suit her better on the back of this.

Form: 2-447

Mistletoe³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Bryan Carver| T: J Tickle

200/1

Linda's Lad mare. Dam winning pointer. Won sole start in point bumpers but sent off at long odds and offered little when sixth of 7 in bumper at Exeter (16.7f, heavy) on NH debut 36 days ago. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 16

Forecasts

The Final Word (1/1), Maximum Offers (9/2), Devon Dude (11/2), Catch On Me (8/1), Duffry Trixs (10/1), Tongaknoxie (28/1), Briery Bee (28/1), Bells Of Ufford (33/1), Fortunate Fella (40/1), A Great Excuse (66/1), Auntie Maggie (66/1), Mistletoe (200/1)

Successful on his third start on the Flat in France, CATCH ON ME built on his hurdles debut run when a good third in a 4-y-o event at Auteuil last summer. Appealing as the type to do better still for his new yard, including now tackling this longer trip, he's selected to come out on top. That said, both The Final Word and Maximum Offers have reasons to recommend them, and are respected, as is Duffry Trix.