January 17 / 13.32 Taunton

13.32

Good To Soft

Martin Baker’s 60th Birthday Bash Mares’ “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 14 runners
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Martin Baker’s 60th Birthday Bash Mares’ “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.13
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1-65U D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner last season; hasn't hit the ground running over hurdles (hooded the last twice) and was 14-1 when departing mid-race in a Kempton maiden on Boxing Day; bit to prove right now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:32 Taunton

Heron In The Park

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tom George

Point/bumper winner last season; hasn't hit the ground running over hurdles (hooded the last twice) and was 14-1 when departing mid-race in a Kempton maiden on Boxing Day; bit to prove right now.

4/1

4

22nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:35 Worcester

Heron In The Park

11st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Tom George

Bought for £280,000 after winning an Irish point (good ground; well-backed favourite) and made light work of Three Runs Mary in a soft-ground bumper at Newbury in March; hasn't put a foot wrong and looks decidedly useful.

11/10

1st

2

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 69y

Class 2

16:50 Newbury

Heron In The Park

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Tom George

travelled strongly, held up in rear

5/1

OUR TIP

7/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 43-5 BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran okay in her two bumpers (good to soft/heavy) but, following wind surgery, her hurdling debut at Wincanton was very underwhelming and 2m5f shouldn't have been an issue on breeding; still early days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:10 Kelso

Beauty In The Park

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Paul Nicholls

Went close at Taunton (2m, good to soft) in January on second hurdle start and improved again to win there (2m, heavy) last month; could continue to progress now switched to handicaps and she's one to consider.

10/1

1st

2

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

14:45 Taunton

Beauty In The Park

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Built upon her bumper promise (including on heavy ground) when going close over C&D last month on her second hurdle start (good to soft; led); open to further improvement and she holds solid claims.

10/11

2nd

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:32 Taunton

Beauty In The Park

11st 4lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Ran okay in her two bumpers (good to soft/heavy) but, following wind surgery, her hurdling debut at Wincanton was very underwhelming and 2m5f shouldn't have been an issue on breeding; still early days.

7/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 195-25 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Newbury bumper winner who was runner-up on her hurdling introduction at Windsor (2m, good to soft) and didn't get home over 2m4f at Southwell last time; back in trip here and probably capable of winning a race of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

14:10 Market Rasen

Chatty Girl

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Dug deep to win soft-ground Newbury bumper on debut last season and has made the frame on three of her four hurdling starts this term; does not appear to be making any progress but ought to be on the premises here.

4/1

4th

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:07 Wincanton

Chatty Girl

11st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Appears betwixt and between trip-wise at present, not seeing out 2m4f at Southwell before registering a keeping-on third over Taunton's 2m1f latest (good to soft); may fare better in handicaps either way.

10/1

Form: 19 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Closely related to the same connections' smart hurdler Doddiethegreat; readily justified favouritism in a good-ground bumper at Southwell and travelled well before cutting out on a soft surface at Cheltenham (Listed); brings plenty of potential to hurdling career.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

15:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Eremenko

11st 11lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

It wasn't a strong maiden she won at Plumpton (2m4f, good) but she breezed home despite a late mistake; not the biggest of mares but well bred and should be able to cope with this opening mark.

3/1

1st

2

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

13:45 Plumpton

Eremenko

11st 4lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Closely related to connections' smart hurdler Doddiethegreat; good-ground bumper winner who has performed okay in two runs over hurdles; latest conqueror at Chepstow (a stablemate of Pigeon Forge; 2m3f, soft) looks a nice prospect; clear claims.

4/5

2nd

3

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

14:10 Chepstow

Eremenko

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Closely related to the same connections' smart hurdler Doddiethegreat; after winning a Southwell bumper on good ground she stopped quickly on soft in a Listed race at Cheltenham; got back on track with a respectable fourth at Taunton (2m, good to soft) which sets the standard here on hurdle form.

Evs

Form: 235

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Competitive in her two bumpers but at 22-1 she was soon left behind in a Hereford maiden; has to step up on that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:40 Hereford

Lyrical Choice

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

Placed in two bumpers; fair form in runs over hurdles, last time finishing 10.5l fifth of 13 in a Taunton mares' maiden (2m, good to soft; form working out quite well); interesting.

11/1

5th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:32 Taunton

Lyrical Choice

11st 4lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

Competitive in her two bumpers but at 22-1 she was soon left behind in a Hereford maiden; has to step up on that form.

25/1

8

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Lyrical Choice

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Half-sister to useful jumpers Frontal Assault, The Folkes Tiara and Riskintheground; made promising debut when second of nine at Worcester (good) in May, albeit grossly flattered by proximity to hard-held winner, and ought to be on the premises again here.

9/2

Form: 67

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field in her two bumpers, the latest here in November; hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

16:00 Fakenham

Four Decades

12st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Well beaten in latest qualifying race (raced too freely) but her midfield finish at Kempton (2m, good to soft) two starts ago was promising, and her pedigree suggests she'll be suited by this hike up in trip on her handicap debut.

11/8

6th

2

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:40 Catterick

Four Decades

11st 4lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Ordinary form in bumpers; slightly better, without getting competitive, in two attempts over hurdles, the latest at Kempton (2m mares' maiden; eighth of 16; 250-1) over a month ago; handicapping awaits.

6/1

8th

5

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

12:52 Kempton

Four Decades

11st 4lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: T Ellis

Ordinary form in two bumpers and she was ultimately well held when switched to hurdles at Taunton (2m, good to soft; 100-1) recently.

150/1

Form: 57

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £50,000 last May after winning two points; beaten 10l in both her bumpers and wouldn't be the obvious answer on her hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:32 Taunton

Shes Delighted

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Bought for £50,000 last May after winning two points; beaten 10l in both her bumpers and wouldn't be the obvious answer on her hurdling debut.

14/1

5th

5

17th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:10 Uttoxeter

Shes Delighted

11st 2lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

2-5 in Irish points, the latter win gained on good ground in May; subsequently changed hands for £50,000 and is one of two new recruits introduced by Fergal O'Brien here.

7/2

Form: 7P

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 4

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 5

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 44-68

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hinted at a future in bumpers but weak in the betting for both runs over hurdles and hasn't featured; might be one for handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

9th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

16:45 Plumpton

Renes Walk

11st 8lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

First foal of a useful jumps winner for her connections; duly showed some promise in bumpers; hasn't fared so well in maiden/novice hurdles but looks the type to improve sharply now qualified for handicaps; interesting.

3/1

11

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:32 Taunton

Renes Walk

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Hinted at a future in bumpers but weak in the betting for both runs over hurdles and hasn't featured; might be one for handicaps.

20/1

Form: 2225

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 4

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Bees Kiss

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.00
Straight Forecast £30.75
Trifecta £200.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Miss Carbo

The Times:

Heron In The Park

SPOTLIGHT:

Eremenko

D Express:

Gilded Glance

The Sun:

Klassy Pearl

POSTDATA:

Miss Carbo

Daily Mail:

Miss Carbo

Daily Mirror:

Miss Carbo

LAMBOURN:

Eremenko

Daily Record:

Eremenko

Telegraph:

Heron In The Park

The Guardian:

Heron In The Park

The Star:

Heron In The Park