UK Horse Racing Tips: Taunton

Farmer Boy has been running consistently well in class 4 handicaps and warrants respect on his first start at Plating level, but race conditions suggest that this should be between UTILITY and Sleep Easy. Both drop significantly in grade after finishing down the field in the same Cheltenham handicap last month (with just a length between them), but David Bridgwater's charge is 4lb in front on official figures and he shades the verdict.
Prediction : 1st Utility 2nd Sleep Easy 3rd Farmer Boy

Dothraki Prince has finished third in three bumpers and is likely to show up well on his hurdling bow, but it might be a case of third time lucky for BATHSHEBA BAY. Both placed efforts to date have been encouraging and this drop in class will make him difficult to beat. Derek Duval and Czech Her Out, equipped with a first-time hood on her debut over timber, are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Bathsheba Bay 2nd Dothraki Prince 3rd Derek Duval

WILD MAX was Group 3-placed on the Flat in Germany and, although he's entitled to be a little rusty on his first outing in 13 months, this represents a great opening for him to make a winning start over hurdles. Brigade of Guards makes his first appearance for Tim Vaughan (previously trained by Alan King) and is unlikely to be far away if running to his official rating of 118, while Mandalayan and Masters Legacy both merit a second look in the betting market.
Prediction : 1st Wild Max 2nd Brigade of Guards 3rd Mandalayan

BREWIN'UPASTORM displayed a good attitude to win narrowly over 2m on his chase debut at Carlisle last month and the extra couple of furlongs here should only help his chances. The son of Milan was Grade 1-placed as a novice hurdler and he can take this race on his way to bigger targets. Southfield Stone won a Grade 2 over hurdles last season and he is clearly the main threat to the selection, while Paint The Dream edges out Romanor to be the pick of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Brewinupastorm 2nd Southfield Stone 3rd Paint The Dream

RUNASIMI RIVER arrives here on the back of victories at Warwick and Hereford in recent months and a 5lb rise for the most recent of those wins may not be enough to stop her from making it a hat-trick. Outofthisworld fell early on in a much stronger race than this at Wincanton on Saturday and Harry Fry's mare merits respect, while Mabela and Viva Vittoria are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Runasimi River 2nd Outofthisworld 3rd Viva Vittoria

CRESSWELL LEGEND made a solid return to action when third at Exeter last month and should be sharper for those exertions. The eight-year-old is on a workable mark of 134, and appears to have been located a nice opening by Kim Bailey. Overland Flyer ended last season's campaign with a thumping Wincanton success in February but wouldn't want too much rain, while Templepark is another to be interested in representing an in-form yard.
Prediction : 1st Cresswell Legend 2nd Overland Flyer 3rd Templepark

SIR PSYCHO took a big step forward from his UK/NH debut for Paul Nicholls at Chepstow when scoring by nine lengths at Wincanton 18 days ago, and he's fancied to continue on an upward curve. First-time cheekpieces also made the world of difference for the three-year-old, and he might have too much pace for Limelighter, who, to his credit, has been performing respectably against some good horses in recent weeks. Recent C&D scorer Borak is another worthy of consideration.
Prediction : 1st Sir Psycho 2nd Limelighter 3rd Borak