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

4th

2

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

13:57 Cartmel

Eremenko

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Bought for £8,000 out of Nicky Henderson's yard last month having won a Plumpton maiden hurdle in April (2m4f, good; second won next time) despite making a bad mistake two out; excuses for poor run next time; interesting down in trip on stable debut.

7/2

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

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

6th

3

4th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:03 Worcester

Four Decades

11st 8lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Lightly raced mare but only five ran when fourth on handicap hurdle debut in April and she's been tailed off on both starts this season; makes chase debut with too much to prove.

20/1

8th

3

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

20:04 Market Rasen

Four Decades

11st 7lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Lightly raced mare but only five ran when fourth on handicap debut and was then tailed off at Uttoxeter; much to prove.

33/1

8th

1

24th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

14:40 Uttoxeter

Four Decades

12st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Lightly raced mare who took a step forward on her handicap debut with fourth of five at Fakenham (2m7f) in April; drops markedly back in trip here after a break.

7/1

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