13:33 Wincanton

Thursday 29 January 2026

All13:3314:0314:3315:0315:3316:0316:33

ITM EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:33 | Winning time: 5m 42.25s

Coolanna^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

1/1

Runner-up both starts in Irish points in the spring before landing 5-runner novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (22.2f, heavy, 10/3) on NH debut 41 days ago. Tongue tie worn there is retained and she must enter calculations despite shouldering a penalty.

Form: 22-1

Strong Run^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

6/5

Sister to very smart hurdler Strong Leader. Bumper winner last season and she built on debut hurdling third when landing the odds in 8-runner novice hurdle at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft) 46 days ago. Has more to offer (in retained tongue tie) and looks the one to beat here.

Form: 2316-31

Ballynorth²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

11/1

Encouraging hurdling debut third at Fontwell (2m3f) in December but she fell heavily 7th in novice hurdle at Warwick (21f, good to soft) 29 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 443-3F

Bunny Bee¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Miss H C Knight

66/1

50/1 but took a big step forward when second of 9 in novice hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, soft) on her hurdles bow 18 days ago. Not discounted now stepping up in trip.

Form: 02

Dalcassian Girl⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour

200/1

Offered little in bumper at Chepstow on her NH debut in November and can only be watched on switch to hurdling.

Form: 52-0

Katie's Melody²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| BF

7/1

Won sole start in points and made a winning start for this yard in a Ffos Las bumper in November. Promise switched to hurdles when second at Exeter (23f) after and emphasis on speed counted against her when fifth at Warwick (21f) next time. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 12-125

Miss Jaffa Cake²³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Poste| T: P Gundry

250/1

Failed to complete both starts in points and she made no impact in a pair of 2m novice hurdles at Newton Abbot and Worcester in early summer. Has lots to prove after a lay-off.

Form: P-F59

Moonlight Stride²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

150/1

200/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, soft) on her hurdles bow 20 days ago. In good hands but significantly more is required.

Form: 8-P

Poet's Muse²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Lorcan Williams| T: I Chanin

40/1

€6,000 3-y-o, Poet's Word mare. Half-sister to fair hurdler/useful chaser Bobhopeornohope and point/bumper winner Stanners Glen. Points winner in May so she needs considering.

Form: 7-1

Svelte Silhouette¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

150/1

Hooded when a debut third in bumper at Wincanton in November. Behind when unseated 7th on her hurdling bow in 2m2f Fontwell novice 18 days ago. Lots more is required.

Form: 37U

Wassailing Along¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

100/1

Encouraging debut third in bumper at Ffos Las for Anthony Honeyball in 2024. Off 12 months and little show for her new yard in novice hurdles at Wincanton and Fontwell recently. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 3-56

Forecasts

Coolanna (1/1), Strong Run (6/5), Katie's Melody (7/1), Ballynorth (11/1), Poet's Muse (40/1), Bunny Bee (66/1), Wassailing Along (100/1), Svelte Silhouette (150/1), Moonlight Stride (150/1), Dalcassian Girl (200/1), Miss Jaffa Cake (250/1)

Fergal O'Brien has his string in great nick and his very well-related mare STRONG RUN is fancied to defy a 6 lb penalty and follow up her Southwell success. Uttoxeter scorer Coolanna could emerge as the main threat, although Katie's Melody remains open to improvement and also needs considering. Bunny Bee and Poet's Muse appeal as the pick of the rest.