Taunton each-way tip: Opticality eyes up frame finish at tasty odds

16:05 Taunton: Saturday Meeting 20th January Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2 miles ½ furlong)  

Carrying a pound less than when landing this race a year ago, Sawpit Sienna is favourite to defend her crown, and she went some way towards rekindling a little of that form when finishing fourth over a longer trip here last time out in November.

If her short price looks unappealing, then it at least gives extra value to top-weighted French raider Ilary De L’Ecu, who could be a handful on her handicap debut, while the dropping mark of Damask might just allow Tom Symonds’ five-year-old to make an overdue impact from under the radar.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Damask finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet

Elsewhere, the four places up for grabs in this 13-runner handicap have got Tipstrr’s each-way specialists interested, and we have left it to Richard Hutchinson, who runs his Won Racing Tip service on the site, to give us an insight into his best bet of the day.

Trainer Mitchell Hunt only has a small string of horses and the six-year-old mare, Opticality, has always been under his care.

She only started racing on the flat as a four-year-old and was a modest sort who improved with wind surgery and the fitting of a visor, while her best form on turf has been with some cut, so the soft ground here should suit.

 It is only three outings ago that she got off the mark to win a one-mile handicap on the all-weather off a mark of 50 in October, and has postmarked a high of 69 on the flat.

Connections sent her for three maiden hurdles runs without any headgear and these had the look of educational rides, with jockey Sean Houlihan not asking too many major questions of her, particularly on her latest run over this course and distance in November, when she jumped nicely  to finish fourth of ten starters, postmarking 74.

Optically makes her handicap debut today, again around Taunton, and her opening mark of 82 looks more than fair, while the application of cheekpieces for the first time over hurdles should improve her focus without lighting her up so much that she has a problem getting the trip.

It’s a promising sign that Hunt’s main strike jockey, Houlihan, again takes the ride, and if everything clicks then the six-year-old looks a sound each-way play with those four places widely available.

Suggested best bet: Opticality each-way in the 16:05 at Taunton

• Tip and preview provided by Richard Hutchinson who provides racing tips as Won Racing Tip on Tipstrr

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