Thursday 8th January 2026
3:00 Taunton: 26 February Landlord’s Raceday Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
Kicking things off for us on Thursday will be the 3.00 at Taunton, and this is a Class 3 handicap hurdle over two miles and three furlongs. It could pay to side with AMERICAN SNIPER here for David Pipe, who’s the mount of seven-pound claimer Rian Corcoran. He bounced back to form last time out when finishing second of eleven over course and distance in December. He was nudged a pound for that run; however, with the rider’s seven-pound claim, he’s effectively running off six pounds lower here, which makes him a big player. He’s got form of 13242 at this track, and can go well again here.
AMERICAN SNIPER – 9/2 (Each-Way)
6.00 Chelmsford: Curry And Racing Next Thursday Classified Stakes (Class 6)
Next up it’s over to Chelmsford, and the 6.00, which is Classified action over six furlongs. ISLA BELLA makes a considerable amount of appeal in this low-grade affair for Joey Ramsden, who’s the mount of Lewis Edmunds. She returned to form last time out in a Wolverhampton handicap, finishing third of eight and just half a length behind the eventual winner. She ought to be making her presence felt at this level at a minimum, and a bold showing would be no surprise from her.
ISLA BELLA – 5/2 (Win) (NB)
7.00 Chelmsford: Easter Festival Family Day Handicap (Class 6)
Staying at Chelmsford for selection number three, and this comes in the form of SMOKEY MALONE in the 7.00, for the team of Julia & Shelley Birkett. He returned to the track after a few days off with respectable effort in November, finishing fifth of thirteen. Notably, he’ll now contest this particular affair off a pound lower than his last winning mark, with that success also coming at this course. Today’s rider, Dylan Hogan, has been on board for all eight of his victories to date, and he looks solid here.
SMOKEY MALONE – 9/2 (Each-Way)
7.30 Chelmsford: Cosy Dining In The Fairwood Handicap (Class 5)
The best bet of the day comes from the 7.30 at Chelmsford, and is the Stuart Williams-trained MERRIMACK, who’s set to be ridden by talented seven-pound claimer Harry Vigors. He won three starts ago at Brighton off just a two-pound lower mark, and went close over six furlongs here last week, when finishing just half of a length third behind Em Four and Charlie Mason. He led for a long way on that occasion, before tiring late on, which suggests the step back down to five furlongs looks the correct move. He’ll contest this off the same mark, with the added bonus of Vigor’s seven-pound claim, and he should go close if he’s in the same form.
MERRIMACK – 11/4 (Win) (NAP)
