The big Wincanton races of the season and Badger Beers card are a West Country highlight of the National Hunt code. Saturday, 8 November sees a Premier Handicap chase and two Grade 2 contest take place at the track.
Those are the Elite Hurdle and Rising Stars Novices’ Chase. Fields are on the small side, but that is due to a dry autumn. Supporting races from this card include the Paul & Richard Barber Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs.
While each-way wagers are tough to find at Wincanton races here, local stables step into the spotlight. While it’s fair to say there are bigger meetings, this one means a lot to the local community. Finding winners over jumps is what our horse racing experts do, meanwhile.
After leafing through the form book, they know all about past performances of runners. A quick look at the odds on offer through horse racing bookmakers online also helps indicate where value lies. Take a look at our experts’ Saturday selections for this fixture.
Wincanton Races Preview for Saturday, 8 November
12:35 – 1m 7f 50y Class 3 Novice Hurdle
He has race fitness on his side yet Ditcheat stable jockey is on the four-year-old. Of the others, Fight My Fire popped up at 100/1 around Fontwell last time. That shock result will be tough to replicate under a penalty. Marhaba The Champ was decent enough on the Flat, meanwhile, and learning his new trade all the time.
1:10 – 2m 4f 35y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-130)
The @JPOwenRacing-trained Abingworth lands the Rase Vets Summer Party Handicap Chase pic.twitter.com/LdSj8ltuRO
— Market Rasen Racecourse (@MarketRasenRace) June 13, 2025
James Owen’s ABINGWORTH is the only horse in any real recent form over fences. A past winner at Wincanton races in March, this seven-year-old also scored around Warwick and Market Rasen (runner-up has gone one better since) before a couple of spins on the Flat. Abingworth now has a steeplechasing mark of 113 and that shouldn’t be beyond him.
Cobden now takes the ride. Bourbali is now 1lb below his last winning mark for Joe Tizzard, but hasn’t wo n over the trip in this sphere. Jaramillo saw his course and distance second to Somespring Special off 3lb lower franked by the winner going in again at Chepstow. A tendency to jump left won’t help Warren Greatrex’s charge here, however.
1:45 – 2m 5f 82y Class 2 Paul & Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
November NH Sale grad Jubilee Alpha added a second listed win and made it 3 wins in 4 starts when taking the mares’ novice hurdle @CheltenhamRaces.
The @PFNicholls trained mare was purchased as a foal from Quill Farm by Tom Kealy for €32,000pic.twitter.com/U9SFd9eKNT
— Tattersalls Ireland (@Tattersalls_ie) April 17, 2025
She can give weight and a beating to her six rivals here. Ditcheat also run Jena D’Oudairies, but she finished behind Emma Lavelle inmate Bethpage in a Cheltenham April Meeting handicap. There’s almost 10 lengths between them on that run and the latter probably wants further. Jena D’Oudairies has a 15lb swing in weight in her favour now, though.
Lavelle also saddles last year’s second, Porter In The Park, back at Wincanton races off a 2lb higher mark. Owen, meanwhile, drops Laravie back into handicaps up in trip after finding the Persian War too hot. A mark of 121 for a mare that had won her last four prior to Chepstow reflects her progress throughout the summer.
2:23 – 2m 4f 35y Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase
Blueking D’Oroux probably needed the run when turned over at long odds-on on his reappearance. He should take a step forward fitness-wise, but is again the wrong side of Evens for Nicholls and Cobden. Preferred at the prices is Henry De Bromhead raider COBRA QUEEN. She seeks a hat-trick over fences, whereas the favourite is still a maiden.
Tight, right-handed tracks have brought about the best in this six-year-old Milan mare as she scored around Tramore, then followed-up at Roscommon. Cobra Queen was also in the Badger Beers, but stays against fellow novices and receives the 7lb sex allowance as a result. Nothing else in this meagre field of five appeals at all.
2:55 – 1m 7f 50y Grade 2 Elite Hurdle
Nothing about the way Hamlet’s Night shaped at Cheltenham suggested dropping him down in trip on an easier course would help. Tax For Max also shapes like he wants further, but at least has graded back form from long before joining the Twiston-Davies team. Frere D’Armes is a course and distance novice winner, but best known as a chaser.
3:30 3m 1f 30y Badger Beers Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Small fields look to be the key to topweight THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE, second in this off 5lb lower in 2023 when he pulled 14 lengths clear of the mighty Frodon. If turning up in similar form, then he can give Nicholls a record-extending 12th victory in this feature contest. It’s a poor turnout, but that suits Threeunderthrufive just fine.
Anthony Honeyball thwarted him two years ago with Blackjack Magic off a low weight, however, and something similar could be on the cards with 2024 third Gustavian. He has the advantage of running within the handicap now. Off just 10st 3lb, Gustavian can give fellow 10-year-old Threeunderthrufive most to think about.
There’s a veterans’ staying chase feel to this with Honeyball mare Credo also making her reappearance. Progressive Art Of Diplomacy is no spring chicken aged nine either, but won his last four steeplechases before coming to grief at the final fence at Chepstow. Eight-year-old duo Soul Icon and Scarface try a new trip.
