A Monday at Wincanton — Don't Mind If I Do

My old dad had a saying: "Never apologise for going racing on a Monday." He'd say it with a slightly guilty grin, usually while pulling on his flat cap somewhere around junction 8 of the M4. I've carried that wisdom with me ever since, and on a day like today — eight races at Wincanton, decent prize money on offer, and a September sun that hasn't quite given up on us yet — there's absolutely nothing to apologise for.

The going is described as Good, Good to Soft in places, with the softer ground confined to around the bend only. In practice, that means we've got a surface that should suit horses who travel well through their races rather than those who need proper cut underfoot. It's the kind of going that rewards a bit of class and a good engine — neither a slog nor a zip-wire. Ideal, really. You can find the full Wincanton racecard over on the site, so let's get into the meat of the day.

The Feature Race: 16:12 Handicap Stakes (Class 4, 1m 3f 99y)

With the biggest prize pot of the afternoon at £10,800, the 16:12 Matchbook Handicap over a mile and three furlongs is the race that catches the eye first. Nine runners, a nice spread of ages, and some genuinely interesting contenders.

Brigid's Well (Hugo Palmer, David Probert) heads the weights alongside Aravalli on a mark of 82, but it's Aravalli who really catches the eye — a course and distance winner, which counts for a great deal around here. Wincanton's long sweeping bend and that uphill finish can catch horses out if they haven't been here before, and Aravalli clearly knows the job. With Taylor Fisher in the saddle and the going unlikely to inconvenience a horse who's won here before, this one looks the most solid proposition in the race.

Don't entirely dismiss Great Bedwyn (Richard Hannon, Sean Levey) either. Rated 81 and a course winner, he's been around the block and Hannon's yard rarely sends horses this far west without meaning business. The step up in trip from some of his recent runs could be the key.

Key Runners to Watch Across the Card

13:42 — Kodi Fire (Charles Hills / Harry Vigors)

We open the afternoon with a 13-runner handicap over a mile and 31 yards, and the one who stands out most obviously is Kodi Fire. Rated 75, he's the joint top-rated in the field and — crucially — carries the [C,D] badge, meaning he's won over this course and distance before. Harry Vigors takes the ride for Charles Hills, and on ground that's not going to be too testing, a horse who already knows how to win here is exactly what you want to be on. Keep him onside.

14:12 — Crazee In Havana (Eve Johnson Houghton / Charles Bishop)

The two-year-old maiden over five furlongs is always a tricky puzzle, particularly when half the field are unraced. But Crazee In Havana holds the highest official rating in the field at 79 and Eve Johnson Houghton is a trainer who knows how to get a juvenile ready for a day like this. On ground that's on the quicker side of soft, a horse with a bit of zip should go well, and Bishop has ridden plenty of winners for the yard. One to watch.

14:42 — Song of The Clouds (William Haggas / Tom Marquand)

The novice stakes at 14:42 is a fascinating little race. All seven runners are unrated, so you're largely going on pedigree, trainer form and gut feel. Song of The Clouds for William Haggas and Tom Marquand ticks the boxes that matter. Haggas doesn't often pitch up at a Monday afternoon meeting with something he doesn't fancy, and Marquand is the kind of jockey who gives you a confident feel from the saddle. The course and distance experience (marked [D]) adds another layer of comfort. Novice races are always a leap of faith, but this one feels like a reasonable leap.

15:12 — Seacole (Ralph Beckett / Rossa Ryan)

The Kim Smith Memorial Maiden Fillies' Stakes is a lovely race, and Seacole is the only filly in the field carrying an official rating — 75 — which tells you she's already shown ability on a racecourse. Ralph Beckett is one of the very best trainers of fillies in the country, full stop. Rossa Ryan is a jockey in fine form. On ground that's fair rather than testing, Seacole ought to have enough class to see off a field of unrated rivals. She'll be a fair price too, which is always a bonus.

15:42 — Distant Rumble (Roger Teal / Marco Ghiani)

The Ivor Laws Memorial Race is a 14-runner sprint handicap over six furlongs, and these races can be a bit of a lottery. But Distant Rumble — a course and distance winner rated 68 — deserves a mention. Roger Teal's horses often run well fresh and on decent ground, and a horse who's already won over this exact track and trip in a competitive field is never one to ignore. Paddy Bradley has been picking up some nice spare rides of late, though Ghiani here is no slouch either.

Going Conditions: What Does Good to Soft Mean Today?

The Good, Good to Soft in places description is fairly encouraging for a September afternoon. The softer patch around the bend is worth noting for the longer trips — horses who get a little unbalanced on a turning surface might find it slightly more taxing than the overall description suggests. For the sprint races (5f 21y), the bend is less of a factor, and the ground should ride fairly true.

Horses with a proven record on Good to Soft or faster ground are the ones to prioritise. Anything that needs heavy or soft ground to show its best is likely to find conditions a touch too lively. Rob Hornby rides across the card today and is a jockey who reads pace beautifully — on a day when the going rewards those who travel well, he's a name worth following through the afternoon. Similarly, Billy Loughnane has multiple rides and has been in excellent form through the summer.

Best Bets & Ones to Watch

  • Best Bet: Aravalli (16:12) — Course and distance winner, top weight shared, solid each-way claims at minimum.
  • Each-Way Pick: Kodi Fire (13:42) — Course and distance form, top-rated, Harry Vigors in the saddle.
  • Speculative Shout: Song of The Clouds (14:42) — Haggas and Marquand is a combination that demands respect in a novice.
  • Filly to Follow: Seacole (15:12) — Only rated runner in the field, trained by one of the best in the business.
  • Each-Way Outsider: Great Bedwyn (16:12) — Course winner, big yard, could run into a place at a nice price.

It's shaping up to be a cracking afternoon's racing in Somerset. Wrap up if you're heading down — September can be sneaky — but enjoy every minute of it. My dad would have loved a day like this. Right, I'm off to study the form. Good luck, everyone.