30/12

1220 LING
BETTING FORECAST: 6/4 Bridgewater Boys, 7/4 Acropolis, 9/2 Teasing, 10/1 Obrigado, 20/1 Climate, Tenement, 33/1 Lancaster Lad.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Acropolis has over a stone in hand on the pick of his runs this year and will win this without too much fuss, even over this trip, if he puts it all in, but that looks far from guaranteed and if he is made to battle at all he could be in trouble. Preference therefore is for BRIDGEWATER BOYS, who in contrast is no stranger to getting his head in front.[

Teasing now a non runner - will this make life easier for the 2 at the head of the market? Acropolis the one for money currently 1.45 and 1.46 means this is no guarantee despite the 3rd fav being a non runner - only 2 places.

1240 TAUNTON
BETTING FORECAST: 8/11 Hector´s Choice, 9/2 King´s Forest, 7/1 Blazing Desert, 12/1 Triple Bluff, 14/1 Seefin Mountain, 16/1 Seeking The Buck, 20/1 Marchand D´Argent, 25/1 Green Belt Elite, Hey Big Spender, 33/1 Wisteria Lane, 40/1 Le Toto, 50/1 Charlotte Street, King Of Charm, 100/1 Whenallelsefails.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: HECTOR’S CHOICE had a feasible excuse in a decent handicap last time, sets a clear standard on form and should be hard to beat. King’s Forest and Blazing Desert can fight out the runner-up spot.[

Kings forest cut to 7/4 now - could prove significant 1.18 HEctor and 1.32 Kings Forest - Blazing desert is Thornton/King and a good each way shout given the connections.

110 TAUNTON
BETTING FORECAST: 8/13 Over Sixty, 7/1 Bahia Blanca, Easter Legend, 10/1 Flutter Bye, 12/1 Shenanigan, 14/1 Cool Friend, 16/1 Rhinestone Ruby, 25/1 Allfortara, 40/1 Darn Hot, 66/1 Callerlilly, Sweet Optomist, 150/1 Elsie May, 200/1 Delaydee Vic,
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: OVER SIXTY has an official rating of 137, sets a tough target for the others to aim at and should not have too much trouble defying a penalty and confirming recent form with Easter Legend and Cool Friend

Now 4/11 the fav - significant confidence? Again the Thornton/King combo exudes confidence -1.08 to place none too appetising a price

325 TAUNTON
BETTING FORECAST: 1/3 Pepe Simo, 3/1 Pipe Banner, 10/1 Hobb´s Dream, 25/1 Voramar Two, 33/1 Dontsayathing, 50/1 Beyond Moonbeams, Tropical Secret, 100/1 Commanche Smiles, False Identity, Hobby Horse, Over Valued.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: This looks a match between PEPE SIMO and Pipe Banner, who weren't a million miles apart when clashing on their debuts at Sandown. However, the selection perhaps should have won that day and, having gained further experience with a respectable effort at Newbury, he's expected to confirm the form

3 sub 25/1! Value in Pipe banner for the place? 1.09 and 1.29 the places for the first 2

ONE ADAY

Just how soft is the soft ground today at Taunton?
1220 LING would be of interest were this not a poor claimer with 1.45 for the 2 the place market. 1.45 is not a price which shows the market leaders are nailed on. Acropolis's spotlight is a worry

"Acropolis
Seems an eternity since he was fourth in Arc (actually in 2004) and not won since; plenty of form, including this year, to make him very hard to beat at this level, placed four times off marks in mid 90s earlier this summer; golden opportunity here, evenover trip on sharp side, but lacks AW experience and, more importantly, questionable attitude makes him dubious proposition at shortish odds."

1240 TAUNTON
6 horses are 100/1 or bigger bringing the field of potential placers (hopefully) down to 6 , 3 of whom will place if the outsiders run as their prices hint at.
Money for Kings Forest is very interesting and 1.32 is a good place only price. Similarly Hectors Choice is 1.2 which is a great price relative to the shorties at 1.08 and 1.09 today. Novice hurdle a worry for HEctor, and 4th in a 5 horse race when fav last time

110 TAUNTON
Significant support for Over Sixty cannot be ignored. 1.08 to place is very stingy but has Choc Thornton on board for Alan King and it's a pairing I like. 5 horses are sub 25/1 which is encouraging and there have been no market hints at a dark horse in opposition to the market leader

325 TAUNTON
11 runner race and only 3 horses are sub 25/1! Last race of the day at Taunton and a bumper to boot - the live market is very important in this case, and as I write Hobbs choice is the one for each way punters it would seem. 4 debutants, and 5 one time outers could be open to improvement. Pepe Simo was obviously thought of by the betting forecaster slotting him in as 1/3 fav, but the 1/2 in the live market shows he was a bit off the mark. As things stand, the 1.09 is too short for me in such a race type. If getting involved in this race, I would have to decide nearer the off given the fact that bumper races are market driven generally because of the relative lack of form

ONE A DAY
Over Sixty would be the one today, albeit at a poor price. I will decide if Kings Forest at a more appetising 1.32 will be my selection at race time. The more sustained support for Hectors Choice or Kings forest will determine my final choice, but as things stand, Kings Forest is the one they have come for into 7/4