The team return with two selections from Taunton…
The highlight of the Taunton card is the 2m½f Byerley Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle, where Jubilee Alpha and Listentoyourheart head the market.
Listentoyourheart remains unbeaten since switching to hurdles at the start of the season and it is difficult to see her being overturned by the re-opposing Jubilee Alpha, despite the market suggestion. A useful performer in bumpers, Dan Skelton's charged ended last season with a strong fifth in the competitive Grade 2 Nickel Coin Mares' National Hunt Flat Race. Victorious by twenty-one lengths in a Market Rasen maiden hurdle on reappearance, Listentoyourheart jumped well to take a novice hurdle at Newbury over 2m½f on her second start, before stepping up class for a Listed win over the same course and distance.
Market rival Jubilee Alpha finished third on that occasion, making up significant ground in the closing stages despite jumping poorly on her hurdling debut and further improvement is expected from the Paul Nicholls-trained mare. Yet Listentoyourheart has answered every question poised this season and she remains the one to side with in a rematch.
WIN – LISTENTOYOURHEART – 9/4
In the 2m½f Royal Oak Hillcommon Juvenile Hurdle, Anthony Charlton's Moutarde is selected to return to winning ways.
A competitive handicapper on the Flat in Ireland, Moutarde was bought out of Gavin Cromwell's yard after finishing a strong second in a competitive Galway maiden hurdle on his first start over hurdles. He was given a tough ask for his UK debut in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham, but ran commendably to finish fourth behind the impressive East India Dock.
Switched back to easier competition, the three-year-old overcame a poor jump at the last flight to triumph by seven lengths at Kempton, yet a second visit to Cheltenham marked a significant defeat in Class 2 handicap company. The drop back to Class 4 level will undoubtedly suit and the use of seven pound claimer Callum Pritchard negates any disadvantage with those rivals on eleven stone.
WIN – MOUTARDE – 3/1
