14:12 Taunton

Tuesday 3 February 2026

All13:4014:1214:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Racing To School Celebrates 25 Years Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 4m 55.02s

Wandering Ego³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 124

13/8

Bumper winner who struck at the second time of asking over hurdles in 2m Stratford novice at the end of October. Latest third on handicap debut at Kempton (2m, good) wasn't a bad effort by any means and he's a big player back in novice company with this stiffer test likely to work in his favour.

Form: 21-6143

Brisky Dancer^t⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas

18/1

Half-brother to 6 winners, including useful hurdler/very smart chaser Al Dancer (2m-25f winner, by Al Namix) and fairly useful hurdler/smart chaser Gold Dancer (17f-2½m winner). Very green when sixth of 11 on debut at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) and should do better in time.

Form: 6

Dragons And Demons¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford

125/1

Didn't get very far on debut at Fontwell and has failed to land a blow both starts over hurdles to date. Yet another who will likely be seen in a better light when contesting handicaps.

Form: U86

Grand Vendetta⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

4/5

Cost €140,000 as a 3-y-o and boasts a pretty useful jumping pedigree. Shaped with plenty of promise when chasing home one who had experience on his side in a Chepstow novice (19.4f, good to soft) in December, despite looking pretty green. Leading claims here with improvement on the cards.

Form: 2

Inkaman^t1⁹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J ScottWS

33/1

Didn't shape badly sole start in a Flat maiden for Alan King back in May 2023. Gelded and had breathing operation since and tongue strap enlisted for this hurdles/yard debut. One to note in the betting.

Form:

Joyau Allen¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls

13/2

Runner-up sole start in Irish points before making a winning start under Rules in an Exeter bumper in January 2024. Hasn't pulled up any trees in 3 starts over hurdles since returning from 21 months off in November and Harry Cobden prefers Grand Vendetta.

Form: 212/P78

Lunchable Bob¹²³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: Gordon Treacy

150/1

Fair form in couple of Irish bumpers in 2021 but safely held when third in 6-runner novice on hurdles debut at Newton Abbot the following year (sole start for Paul Henderson). This very lightly-raced 11-y-o is best watched starting out for another new yard on the back of a mammoth absence.

Form: 66543/

Non-Runners

Crest Of Valour¹⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: A J Honeyball J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Dino Moon¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: Evan Williams J: Isabel Williams

Forecasts

Grand Vendetta (4/5), Wandering Ego (13/8), Joyau Allen (13/2), Brisky Dancer (18/1), Inkaman (33/1), Crest Of Valour (50/1), Dino Moon (100/1), Dragons And Demons (125/1), Lunchable Bob (150/1)

There was plenty of promise in GRAND VENDETTA's debut second to a potentially useful novice at Chepstow, especially considering that he was evidently very green. That experience will have done him the world of good and he shades preference ahead of Wandering Ego, who hasn't really built on his runaway Stratford success in two subsequent starts in this sphere but he nevertheless remains of interest. Inkaman showed ability on his sole start on the Flat and is worth a second look.