Taunton Preview: Bach ready to hit the high notes

Trainer Warren Greatex is enjoying a terrific season and Hand On Bach looks weighted to give him another winner in the 3m handicap hurdle at Taunton today (2.40).

The gelding didn’t trouble the judge in his first season over the obstacles, but showed enough to suggest he was capable of winning races.

The six-year-old’s best run came when finishing seventh of 12 to Chatterbox at Newbury in February 2013, where he led until hitting the fourth last and weakened after being headed three from home to be beaten 13 3/4 lengths.

The winner is rated 143, and the second home Lac Fontana went on to win the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and a Grade 1 at Aintree and is now rated 151.

That is strong form and resulted in Hand On Bach being given an opening handicap mark of 117.

The son of Bach is now able to race off just 95, having shaped as if his time was near when an eye-catching fourth in a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at Ludlow.

Hand On Bach was well-supported that day, but things didn’t go to plan as he made a mistake and got hampered before staying on to finish a 3 1/4 length fourth of 12 to Grand Gigolo.

In the circumstances it was a very good effort in the hands of an inexperienced 8lb claimer, and with Gavin Sheehan now taking over in the saddle this looks a great opportunity for Hand On Bach to notch his first career success.

In the 2m 3f handicap hurdle (1.40), Daveron can take advantage on an ease in grade to notch a second success at the track.

The Jeremy Scott trained gelding opened his account over hurdles when beating Very Noble by eight lengths over course and distance back in April off a mark of 110, and has shaped as if coming to the boil in two runs this season.

In the last of those at Cheltenham, the six-year-old stayed on nicely from off the pace to finish a never nearer eighth of 20 to Unique De Cotte in a very competitive class 3 handicap.

This looks far easier, and if building on that effort Daveron is the one they all have to beat off an unchanged mark of 118.