Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Taunton

Leg 1 Selections: Ioupy Collonges, Flamelco

IOUPY COLLONGES has won two of his three starts under rules and this bumper winner stepped up on his hurdles debut second when winning smoothly at Chepstow last month. He should have more to come now venturing into handicaps and his trainer is in very good form. The one to beat in leg 1.

FLAMELCO didn’t show much on his stable debut last month but this should reveal more and this former winner in France shouldn’t be underestimated for a stable who has a good record with these type of recruits. At a double-figure price, Gary Moore’s charge is selected as a back up option to the former. 

Leg 2 Selections: Out Of Office 

In leg 2, Evan Williams’ OUT OF OFFICE created an excellent impression when scoring at Chepstow after Christmas with a lot in hand and is a very smart prospect in the making going forward. His fourth behind Tahmuras on debut reads well and while Dancila returned a good winner on his first go over hurdles and was useful on the flat, the former shades the verdict this time. 

Leg 3 Selections: Fancy Your Chances, My Girl Katie 

FANCY YOUR CHANCES made the frame in her first two starts over hurdles and although she has yet to make an impact in both her handicap starts since, the application of first-time blinkers could bring about further improvement.

MY GIRL KATIE has made steady progress over hurdles and ran a tidy race when second on her handicap debut at Newbury last month. She gets into this race off the exact same mark and should have more to offer, so she has place possibilities at the very least.

Leg 4 Selections: Young Buck, Striking A Pose, Doctor Ken

YOUNG BUCK displayed some very good form over hurdles a couple of seasons ago and in spite of his two underwhelming starts over fences, he has a chance at decent odds. This lightly-raced nine-year-old for Paul Nicholls is surely well-handicapped off this mark and could figure. 

STRIKING A POSE hasn’t won since winning on his chase debut off a six pounds higher mark but he has run a couple of good races on other occasions since then. He did well to finish as close as he did last time in third having looked like he would be pulled up at one stage plus the return to a longer trip here should suit. 

DOCTOR KEN beat a good horse on his chase debut and ran well behind a dual subsequent winner when last spotted in Scotland. He has to prove his stamina over this distance but he brings some of the strongest form to the table and could make a bold bid off top-weight. 

Leg 5 Selections: JPR One, In The Air 

JPR ONE hasn’t been seen since contesting the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, so he improve from this run but the form of his Taunton success here has worked out accordingly well and he did win on his rules/stable/hurdles debut over hurdles and is clearly capable fresh. He cannot be taken lightly. 

IN THE AIR last ran over hurdles in a much stronger race than this at Ascot and returns to this sphere in a lower grade from a three pounds lower mark. Gary Moore’s charge looks well-treated off this mark and has potential to rank higher, therefore, he could easily make the frame or perhaps even win this in receipt of weight from all rivals. 

Leg 6 Selections: Kym Eyre, Auditoria

KYM EYRE still remains winless but she ran her best race to date when a clear second over fences last time in a stronger race and the assessor has only raised her mark a couple of pounds. She has plenty more to come and should prove tough to beat in her quest to gain a first career success for Evan Williams. 

AUDITORIA has found one too good in each of her last two starts but she wasn’t beaten far last time and is on a pound lower mark here plus the appliance of a first-time visor could signal another improved display. She is capable of winning a race of this calibre and is also included on the ticket.