December 07 / 12.55 Wincanton

12.55

Soft

Merry Wincanton Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 5f 82y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
RTV
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Merry Wincanton Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

Form: 120-1

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won AW bumper on debut just under a year ago and readily justified odds-on favouritism in four-runner maiden on seasonal/hurdle debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in October; the bare form isn't anything to get excited about but she ought to have quite a bit more to offer if she copes with today's slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Kay Tara Tara

10st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Safely held on last month's chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) but that came after a 489-day absence and she's well handicapped on old hurdling form; no surprise if she gets closer to the target today.

10/1

4th

6

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:50 Ludlow

Kay Tara Tara

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Bumper (AW) and maiden hurdle winner for Alan King but she didn't progress; wore a tongue-tie when fair fifth on debut for this yard in November 2024 and she built on that in added cheekpieces when close second of four at Newcastle (also about 2m4f, good) a fortnight later; makes chase debut after 489 days away with the market likely to offer some clues.

9/1

2nd

4

15th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:55 Newcastle

Kay Tara Tara

11st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

took keen hold, raced in third, good jump 3 out, challenging 2 out, led narrowly last, ridden run-in, no extra final 110yds, headed towards finish

13/2

Form: U

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Game good in Irish points with easy win against four rivals on slow ground in March and was in process of running well before coming to grief at penultimate flight on recent stable/hurdle debut at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft); shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:30 Ludlow

Annie Express

11st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Has a patchy profile but she made it 2-6 over fences when justifying favouritism here (2m4f, good) last month; up 6lb but that was a personal best last time and her other chase win came over this C&D; key player.

2/1

1st

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

14:57 Ludlow

Annie Express

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Making stable debut when scoring comfortably over 3m here in January (good to soft) but has to get back on track after three lesser efforts (the latest in a first-time visor).

9/2

4th

9

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Annie Express

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Won easily over fences at Ludlow (3m) in January on debut for this yard but nothing since, latterly with cheekpieces back on; now tries a visor; risky enough.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a multiple point winner; with a good stable for rules career but showed no promise when pulled up in two maiden points in February/March.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

31st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:45 Exeter

Astro Annie

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Out of a half-sister to tough stayer Dawson City and bred to do better at some stage but pulled up all four starts, in two points and two novice hurdles.

100/1

0

3

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

12:53 Wincanton

Astro Annie

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Pulled up in two Irish points earlier this year and also struggled (albeit on heavy ground) when 50-1 for recent rules debut here (2m5f); drops back in trip with tongue-tie added.

100/1

0

2

12th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

13:45 Wincanton

Astro Annie

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

in touch with leaders, weakened 3 out, soon pulled up

25/1

Form: 203-64

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two of her three bumpers last season and bettered her disappointing hurdle debut when staying on for respectable fourth of 13 at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) last month; has over 4l to find with Stuti on that form but probably has more improvement to come; wears a first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

12th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

14:40 Fontwell

Bethka

11st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Ability in bumpers and found plenty of improvement from her comeback run to finish a staying-on fourth at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) when just over 4l behind Stuti; gives the impression that she's going to stay further than this; handles soft.

13/2

Form: 51-3

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-sister to stable's top-class chaser Frodon; kept on well to win soft-ground Plumpton bumper in April but lacked fluency and was just a modest third on last month's hurdling debut there (2m, good to soft); ought to be suited by today's move up in trip but needs to improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:45 Wincanton

Country Lady

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Plumpton bumper winner (soft); beaten in the region of 10l in her two hurdles (2m/2m5f) and this lightly raced mare should progress for her top yard now handicapping.

2/1

3rd

4

12th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

13:45 Wincanton

Country Lady

11st 0lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, pressed leader 3 out, lost second before 2 out, no extra from last

3/1

Form: 574

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in a bumper and two maiden hurdles (1m7f/2m7f) since switched to racing under rules in October.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:55 Taunton

Nomoreblackjack

10st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Keiran Burke

Tailed off in a bumper and two hurdle races, latterly trying 2m7f at Exeter; very opposable.

100/1

4th

6

26th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

12:55 Exeter

Nomoreblackjack

10st 12lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Keiran Burke

Well beaten in two maiden points, a bumper and 1m7f maiden hurdle; looks bred more for this sort of trip.

50/1

Form: 41-3

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Rallied well to regain lead close home in soft-ground Chepstow bumper in May and made fairly good start to hurdling career when third at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft) last month; up in trip again here; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 8

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two good-ground point bumpers in February/March 2022 but, following a long absence, was tailed off when 300-1 for last month's hurdling debut at Newbury (2m).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Raindance Queen

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

21-race maiden; big prices and well beaten in four starts since November including in a hurdle handicap at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; out of the weights again and can only be watched.

100/1

12th

17

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Raindance Queen

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

18-race maiden; massive prices and well beaten in three starts since November (chase and two maiden hurdles); no reason to expect better from 5lb wrong; better to focus elsewhere.

100/1

13

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Worcester

Raindance Queen

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: William de Best-Turner

One of her better runs when 16l fourth of 13 to King Of The Story over C&D last month but this maiden is even further out of the handicap this afternoon and is hard to fancy.

40/1

Form: 6

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Joined Billy Aprahamian after finishing second in an Irish point in February (good to yielding ground) but struggled (albeit on heavy ground) in Ffos Las maiden hurdle (2m4f) last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

12:55 Newcastle

Seasmoke

11st 7lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Billy Aprahamian

Scored over fences at Market Rasen (3m) in November but she's failed to go on and underwent breathing surgery (also fitted with cheekpieces) before coming in a well-held third of five at Exeter (3m) 20 days ago; reverts to hurdles with plenty to prove.

6/1

3rd

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

15:37 Exeter

Seasmoke

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Billy Aprahamian

Well beaten on heavy ground last month (jumped poorly) but has generally done well over fences this season, most notably when winning at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) in November; likely contender if last month's wind op and/or first-time cheekpieces aid quick return to form.

3/1

Form: 87-

Last run: 251 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
From a good jumping family but showed only minor promise in her two bumpers last season and is not the most obvious answer here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 97y

Class 4

15:50 Ascot

Spring Gale

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Henry Daly

Unlikely that she had to improve to win a 2m3f Chepstow maiden (good) under Harry Cobden in April; brings potential into handicaps, especially now raised in distance.

9/2

2

23rd Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 97y

Class 4

15:50 Ascot

Spring Gale

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Henry Daly

Unlikely that she had to improve to win a 2m3f Chepstow maiden (good) under Harry Cobden in April; brings potential into handicaps, especially now raised in distance.

9/2

1st

16

26th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:39 Chepstow

Spring Gale

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Henry Daly

Consistent efforts since having wind surgery, most recently third in Hereford handicap (2m5f) despite lacking fluency; respected on ratings and the booking of Harry Cobden is a bonus.

11/4

Abandoned

Form: 414-3

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won Southwell bumper in April (good to soft) and was placed on seasonal/hurdle debut at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago, having raced prominently throughout; ought to make her presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 12y

Class 5

17:05 Taunton

Stuti

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

Had some hiccups since bumper win, notably when pulled up in both handicaps this winter, over hurdles (2m4f, good) and on chase debut (3m, good to soft); this first 2m run over jumps needs to prompt a big turnaround.

5/1

Form: 623P9

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two run-of-the-mill Worcester bumpers during the summer but was well beaten on her two hurdling starts in October (2m/1m7f); moves up in trip today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

11

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:38 Wincanton

Theweddingcanwait

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Syd Hosie

No significant promise in three maiden/novice hurdles in the autumn (twice over C&D) and 6lb out of the weights for today's handicap debut; worth a glance in the betting but significant improvement is needed.

33/1

13th

17

12th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

12:45 Wincanton

Theweddingcanwait

10st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Syd Hosie

Runner-up/third in two good-ground bumpers in the summer but unable to transfer that ability to her two attempts over hurdles.

66/1

Verdict

Top of the list is STUTI, who began her hurdling career with a pretty solid third at Market Rasen three weeks ago. Chepstow bumper winner Queen Annie (second choice) has plenty of scope to progress from last month’s Exeter third and is respected, while Annie Express was just ahead of her before unseating her rider at the penultimate flight there. Kay Tara Tara carries a penalty for her small-field win but also features prominently in calculations.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Stuti

RP RATINGS:

Kay Tara Tara

POSTDATA:

Queen Annie

The Times:

Country Lady

LAMBOURN:

Annie Express

The Guardian:

Stuti

D Express:

Stuti

The Star:

Stuti

Daily Record:

Stuti

Telegraph:

Kay Tara Tara

Daily Mail:

Kay Tara Tara

Daily Mirror:

Kay Tara Tara

WEST COUNTRY:

Queen Annie

The Sun:

Queen Annie