Taunton Preview: Flashy Star weighted to shine

Flashy Star can take advantage of a drop in the weights to belated open his account in the 3m 1f handicap hurdle at Taunton this evening (17.15).

The gelding is yet to get his head in front in 13 starts over the obstacles, but has run well to be placed on several occasions.

They include a solid third last time out at Worcester behind Karl Marx, and the winner has since gone on to finish a fine second off a mark of 82.

That form reads well in the context of this contest given that Flashy Star was attempting to give the winner 9lb on what was his final start for trainer Paul Hernderson.

Flashy Star has since joined Neil Mulholland, and having been dropped another 3lb by the assessor is able to race off a career-low mark of 78.

That is 11lb lower than his initial mark of 89, off which the son of Mr Greeley ran well to twice finish fourth, and gives Flashy Star major claims at the weights.

Mulholland also has a good record in freshening up and getting improvement from similar types, and it’s interesting that he is now fitting Flashy Star with the tongue-tie for the first time.

If that aid can bring about any sort of improvement then this looks a gilt edged opening for Flashy Star to get off the mark in the hands of Noel Fehily.

In the 2m 1f handicap hurdle that closes proceedings (19.45), Bus Named Desire has a piece of form to her name which makes her look very well-treated if the fitting of the hood for the first time has a desired effect.

That run came at Stratford where the Kevin Frost trained mare kept on to finish a 5 3/4 length third to Honey Pound.