A competitive seven-race National Hunt programme will be staged on Thursday, 29 January at Wincanton Racecourse featuring novice hurdlers, developing chasers and a strong representation of mares across a varied afternoon card. The Wincanton Race Cards 29 January will span trips from just under two miles to extended three-mile contests, with prize money ranging from £4,000 to £25,000.
The afternoon will begin with a mares’ novices’ hurdle and will conclude with a mares’ open maiden bumper, offering opportunities for developing horses and established performers across hurdles, fences and the flat.
The ITM EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4) at 1:33pm will be run over 2m 5f 156y and will attract 11 runners competing for £11,000. Coolanna, Strong Run, Ballynorth and Bunny Bee will be among those expected to line up in a contest designed to highlight staying novice mares early in the programme.
At 2:03pm, attention will turn to the Travel Incentive for British Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4). Run over 2m 4f 65y, the £10,000 contest will see seven runners declared, including Windsurfer, The Blueberry One, Carrigmoorna Rowan and Atreides. The race will provide a key test for novice chasers still adapting to competitive conditions over fences.
The Visit Irish ITM Maiden Hurdle (Class 4) will follow at 2:33pm and will be contested over 1m 7f 100y. A field of 18 runners will compete for £10,000, with Aguellid, Anthracite, Bright Legend and Forest Hills among those set to take part in one of the most competitive-looking races on the card.
The Thank You Geoff Derham Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) at 3:03pm will be run over 2m 4f 33y and will feature 14 runners chasing £8,500. Ribba Hill, Broomfield Gale, Tractor Jack and Ourbrowneyedgirl will be among the likely contenders in a race expected to reward stamina and consistency.
The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Dick Hunt Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 3) at 3:33pm will serve as the feature event. Run over 3m 1f 73y for a prize of £25,000, the race will include six runners, with Largy Poet, Collectors Item, Take Your Time and Jupiter Allen set to contest a demanding staying test.
At 4:03pm, the Irish Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 5) will be staged over the same 3m 1f 73y trip. Thunder Rock, Illico de Cotte, Mr Glass and Pyleigh Court will be among the six runners competing for £6,500.
The card will conclude at 4:33pm with the Mares’ Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Class 5). The 1m 7f 100y contest will feature 10 runners including Dreamfyre Dancer, Hotter Than Dubai, Midnight Doyen and Pink Perjury, and will provide a closing look at future jumping prospects.
The seven-race programme will provide a well-balanced afternoon of National Hunt racing, offering opportunities for novice performers while delivering searching tests for experienced chasers and hurdlers across a range of trips and classes.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.