13:40 Taunton

Thursday 12 February 2026

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

Free Raceday 9 March Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 3f 1y | 9 Runners | Turf

Eric Gorcombe²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford

150/1

No show in points/trio of hurdle starts.

Form: 8/PPPP-0

Fane Court²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: B Lund

150/1

Bought for 5,000 gns after winning an Irish point in November but has been tailed off in a pair of novice hurdles.

Form: B/1-68

Five Bar Gate²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland

2/1

Point bumper winner who improved on Rules debut form to land 7-runner bumper at Plumpton (17.8f, soft) in December. Showed an aptitude for hurdling when fifth of 13 in a C&D maiden last month and likely to improve.

Form: 5/1-615

Georges Street⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Godfrey| T: Claire Hitch

40/1

€38,000 3-y-o, £7,000 4-y-o, Order of St George gelding. Dam, maiden on Flat, half-sister to high-class hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 3m) Sharjah. Unpromising in points and sold cheaply.

Leader Crik¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-DaviesWS

7/4

Very tall gelding who finished runner-up sole start in Irish points (May 2025). Shaped as if in need of the experience when sixth of 7 in novice hurdle at Cheltenham (19.9f, good) on hurdles bow in October. Had had a breathing operation subsequently and likely to improve.

Form: 2-6

Sailing By³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

10/1

Produced a promising first effort behind a couple of useful prospects when third of 13 in Chepstow bumper (2m, soft) on debut in November. Went backwards in a similar event at Exeter prior to being given a considerate introduction to hurdles.

Form: 377

Paradise Park³⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: T Faulkner

28/1

Shaped with some encouragement when fourth of 10 in a bumper at Uttoxeter in April 2024 but made a low-key hurdles debut 8 months later and off a further 12 months.

Form: 4/9-

Innamorato^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117

5/2

Showed fairly useful form when hitting the frame in pair of juvenile hurdles in France last summer but well below that level both starts in Britain. Step up in trip needs to trigger a better showing.

Form: 4384

Mariole⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Made a promising start to career when second of 9 in French bumper over 1½m for Mathieu Pitart in April. Well held in a listed event at Cheltenham on New Year's Day on first start for Nicky Henderson but shouldn't be written off now switching to hurdling.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Mariole (6/4), Innamorato (2/1), Five Bar Gate (5/2), Leader Crik (12/1), Sailing By (20/1), Paradise Park (50/1), Georges Street (100/1), Eric Gorcombe (150/1), Fane Court (150/1)

FIVE BAR GATE showed an aptitude for hurdling when fifth of 13 in a C&D maiden last month and, with the timefigure supporting the performance, there's good reason to believe he can take a step forward. Leader Crik was held back by inexperience on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham back in the autumn and should do better, while Mariole is in excellent hands and can't be written off on this switch to obstacles.