13:05 Taunton

Thursday 12 February 2026

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Happy Birthday David Griffin Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 104y | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls

Some promise in bumpers and on last month's Exeter hurdling debut but probably won't show his true potential until sent handicapping over further. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 3-45

Corner Forward²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball

100/1

Signs of ability in maiden hurdles but likely to be seen in better light when sent handicapping.

Form: P66

Louis Des Landes⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

22/1

Voiladenuo gelding. Brother to a winner, and half-brother to French 2m hurdle winner Magique des Landes and hurdle/chase winner in France Grand des Landes. Shaped as if amiss when down the field in C&D bumper on debut in November.

Form: 0

Marhaba Prince⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| BF

4/1

Fair bumper winner who was turned over at short odds in 4-runner maiden at Sedgefield (19.8f, soft) on hurdles bow in December, flattered by proximity to idling winner. Improvement likely needed to come out on top in a slightly deeper race here.

Form: 17-32

Western Cross³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

15/8

Runner-up on the first of 2 outings in bumpers and showed plenty to work on sent hurdling when third of 14 in novice (66/1) at Hereford (16.2f, soft) last month, making late headway after again racing freely. Sure to improve.

Form: 293

Deauville Lady²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: N J Hawke

150/1

Looks decidedly limited on early evidence.

Form: 6-07

Follow The Plan

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe

33/1

Dartmouth mare. Dam unraced. Third on completed start in Irish points (Dec 7). Way of Stars appears the stable's first string on jockey bookings.

Babyken^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

15/8

Fair winner on Flat in France who shaped as if amiss when pulled up in juvenile at Fontwell (17.7f, good) on hurdling debut in October, folding tamely. Fitted with a tongue strap and shaped better when second over C&D subsequently but needs more.

Form: P2

Circle Of Secrets⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien

15/2

Showed more than first time up when fourth of 15 in juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown (18f, good to soft) 45 days ago. Since left Emmet Mullins and possibly more one for handicaps after this.

Form: 44

Way Of Stars^h1⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

4/1

Useful on Flat for Andrew Balding, scoring at Goodwood (14f) in June. Performed a long way below that level on his Exeter hurdling debut having changed hands for 68,000 gns but seems likely to improve for the experience. Hood on for 1st time.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Circle Of Secrets (11/4), Way Of Stars (4/1), Marhaba Prince (4/1), Babyken (9/2), Western Cross (5/1), A King Of Magic (16/1), Louis Des Landes (20/1), Follow The Plan (25/1), Corner Forward (25/1), Deauville Lady (150/1)

WESTERN CROSS caught the eye closing all the way to the line in a well-contested novice on his Hereford hurdling debut last month, so he's an appealing candidate to make it second time lucky in this sphere. Way of Stars seems sure to have learnt from his opening effort over hurdles and is clear second choice, with Babyken fancied to fill the places.