'He's in the best form of his life' - who thinks he has a great chance?

Thursday: 2.50 Taunton
Bet At racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle | 2m3f | 3yo+ | RTV

Jonjo O’Neill won this race last year with improving handicapper An Tailliur and he is represented by Itso Fury, who has a slightly different profile from the 2021 winner.

The Gay Smith-owned five-year-old was placed in three decent bumpers and bolted up on his hurdling debut at Warwick, before taking an introductory event at the start of this month.

An opening mark of 124 may underestimate Itso Fury, who looks the class act in the race, but both his wins over hurdles has come in four-runner affairs and he could find one better treated.

Irish Hill returns to the scene of his winning British debut and the Paul Nicholls-trained four-year-old was unlucky to bump into Quinta Do Mar at Fontwell last time.

Irish Hill went down by only a head to the winner, who had contested strong handicaps at the Cheltenham and Aintree spring festivals earlier in the year and was entitled to win in weaker company.

A repeat of that effort from Irish Hill, who is reunited with Harry Cobden, should see him go very close on his second start after a wind operation.

Quoi De Neuf, Kauto The King and Pasvolsky revert to hurdles but Notre Pari is the most intriguing contender back from a spell chasing. Olly Murphy’s gelding is 1lb above his last winning mark, which came over this trip.

Keiran Burke has demonstrated he is a dab hand at racking up sequences with horses already this season with Soul Icon and The Height Of Fame and therefore course-and-distance winner Love Actually has to be respected as she attempts to follow up from the foot of the weights.
Race analysis by Charlie Huggins

What they say

Evan Williams, trainer of Quoi De Neuf
He's grand. He's run well around here before and he's a bonny horse who we can have lots of fun with. He's not been seen since pulling up at Haydock in April but we need to go and start him somewhere.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Notre Pari
He's in good form. We're reverting to hurdles as he didn't take to chasing on his last couple of runs and he'll need to improve on them. He's had a good bit of time off and is a fresh horse, so hopefully he can run well off that. He has an each-way chance.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Pasvolsky
He's in good order and he's got the ground he wants, but he's handicapped to the hilt at the moment. He's a good, fun horse who runs blinders consistently, but I fear he may be on the wrong side of the handicapper for this.

David Jeffreys, trainer of Petrastar
He's in tremendous form, probably the best form of his life, but this does look a tough race. He stayed on well on his comeback and we're going back up to 2m3f, but he won over 2m4f in his novice season. He's had kissing spines and had all the operations for that, and seems to be well at the moment.

David Pipe, trainer of Nobel Joshua
He's been off for a very long time and it's nice to get him back on track. The trip will be on the short side for him and I'm sure whatever he does he will improve on that.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

New Upping The Ante star Johnny Dineen joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the key horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.