Dave Nevison top tips: best bets for Taunton on Thursday

Langley Hundred was a two-time winning handicap hurdler over this kind of trip last season and he is closely related to decent staying chasers, so it was no surprise to see him make a decent fist of things when switched to fances last time out.

He was entitled to be rusty after six months off but he jumped around Ludlow in decent fashion and finished a clear second. With normal improvement, he looks well enough handicapped to notch another win at this sort of level. The Hobbs/White team continue in good form and Michael Nolan takes over from an inexperienced claimer.

Famoso seems to be on the improve and can win his third handicap chase of the season here.

His two wins this term have been gained by less than a length so the handicapper has not been too harsh on him. A 4lb rise for his latest victory at Ludlow this month looks fair.

He jumped around Ludlow proficiently and could be named the winner all the way up the straight but only took up the running after the last. He had plenty in hand and the opposition here looks no stronger.

Rates the best bet of the day off just a 1lb higher mark than when second on his handicap hurdling debut at Fakenham a fortnight ago.

That was his first run back under the care of Stuart Edmunds after a subdued spell with Alexandra Dunn.

The silver lining of those three disappointing efforts is a low mark to set out in handicaps and if he can jump a little better I am sure he will show his mark of 82 to be lenient.

Sailed Away looked to enjoy being on the pace and I will be surprised if he is not ridden that way at Taunton, a track where it often pays to race prominently.