Last Saturday we witnessed Super Saturday at Newbury, with the West Country flag flying high. Team Hobbs & White look to have a nice horse on their hands in Sober Glory, who was very impressive under Harry Cobden in the opening race of the day, writes Martin Higgs.
Later on the card came the William Hill Hurdle, for those 'of a certain age' it will always be the Schweppes – an ultra-competitive contest steeped in history. Paul Nicholls, however, was paying little attention to the past as Tutti Quanti took the race by the scruff of the neck under Cobden. The pair controlled the contest from the front, winning by an extraordinary 15 lengths, surely one of the largest winning margins in the race’s history.
Elsewhere on the card, Lulamba won and staked his claim as favourite for the Arkle in March, while Haiti Couleurs landed the Denman Chase. This is a horse who has now won an Irish Grand National on soft/heavy, a Welsh Grand National carrying top weight on good to soft, and a Denman Chase on heavy ground. Now rated 166, he has surely secured his place as a major Gold Cup contender.
In fact, I think he could win it and certainly be in the first three. He is currently available at 10/1 non-runner no bet, so an each-way investment looks the sensible play. You heard it here first: he’ll go on any ground, he’ll stay, and he’ll have the champion jockey on board. He may well be funding the beef for Sunday lunch in the Higgs household on the Sunday after Cheltenham.
Turning attention to this Thursday at Taunton, there are six races on the card and the runners are declared, so here are my initial thoughts.
Racing commences at 1.05 with the Happy Birthday David Griffin Maiden Hurdle. Another David (Pipe) appears to hold the key with Way Of Stars. Formerly useful on the Flat with Andrew Balding, his last run at Exeter may not stand out at first glance, but the form has worked out well. The winner has scored again and is now rated 127, while the second has since finished a four-length fourth in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. Add in the four-year-old weight-for-age allowance and that looks good enough for me. No pressure then as David is the racecourse Chairman, I'll just blame the trainer if it all goes wrong!
The second race is more complicated. A tentative selection is Leader Crik, who cost £160,000 in May 2025 and has since undergone a wind operation. With nine runners going to post, each-way support is advised.
The third is the Ross Stacey Still Cannot Cook Novices’ Hurdle, who needs friends, hey? Anyway, I'm sure he can’t be that bad, maybe a few quid on Cooler Than Me might help fund a few hours in cookery school should his confidence be dented!
Next comes the Paul Barber Memorial Chase, many will be in attendance to recognise what a fine servant Paul was to Taunton Racecourse and to racing as a whole. It is an honour to stage this event, and last time out course-and-distance winner Bataillon (pictured) looks to hold the key in a tricky affair.
The Royal Bath & West Show Class 3 hurdle that follows makes for fascinating reading. Brentford Hope finished just 1½ lengths behind The New Lion at Cheltenham last time admittedly it was a falsely-run race, but he still posted a respectable figure and commands respect. For me, however, the winner could be Spirits Bay, who may cope with the heavy ground better than his rivals.
Finally, the Open Hunter Chase looks a strong contest. Last-time-out winner Snipe looks dangerous, Warwick Hunter Chase winner Golden Son represents Paul Nicholls, and former Gordon Elliott runner Beacon Edge makes his hunter chase debut for Josh Newman. I'll take a watching brief, please!
It promises to be an entertaining afternoon with quality racing. Tickets are available at www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk or can be purchased at the gate on the day. There is also the usual courtesy coach service, departing from outside Platform 5 at Taunton Railway Station 90 minutes before the first race and returning half an hour after the start of the last.
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