Taunton preview: Elkstone can collect for in-form King

In the 2m 3f handicap hurdle (14.40), Pengo’s Boy looks potentially thrown-in at the weights and decent value to land the spoils.

The Stuart Kittow trained gelding won on debut in a bumper at this venue, and went on to finish a cracking seventh of 13 to Supasundae in a listed affair at Ascot that has thrown-up a whole host of subsequent winners.

They include the runner-up Yanworth who is now rated 145, and the fifth home Thistlecrack who is now a leading contender for the World Hurdle and rated 161.

Pengo’s Boy has since had three runs over hurdles, and shaped really well in the last of those when keeping on nicely to finish a 10 1/2 length fourth to Modus over 2m 1f at this venue.

The winner is a very highly regarded and exciting prospect rated 134, and the runner-up had previously won twice and is rated 128.

That, along with the bumper run at Ascot, is very strong form and suggests the handicapper has taken a huge chance in allotting Pengo’s Boy an opening handicap mark of just 115.

Selections

12.40: Zanstra
13.10: Rock On Oscar
13.40: Elkstone (NAP)
14.10: Spending Time
14.40: Pengo’s Boy (NB)
15.10: Barrakilla
15.40: Drumcliff

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