14:32 Taunton 09 Apr 2026
Frodon & Black Corton At Taunton Novices' Hurdle
GBB Race | Class 4 | 4YO plus
Winner £5,446 - 7 run
- Winner
- Top 2 Finish
- W/O Minella Yoga
- Top 3 Finish
- W/O
- W/O Minella Yoga And Secret Sniper
- Insure 2 Places
- W/O Lau And Shaz And Minella Yoga
- Finish Exactly 2nd
- W/O Secret Sniper
- W/O Lau And Shaz
- Not To Win
Still green, ran to form up in trip under penalty though comfortably held in a novice hurdle at Newbury last time; effective 2m, acts on good to soft; still learning, more to come over hurdles.
A winner of a hurdle race at 2m on good to soft ground. Finished 16l behind Le Frimeur when sixth of 8 at 15-2 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Newbury over 2m 4f (good to soft) last month.
Still green, ran to form up in trip under penalty though comfortably held in a novice hurdle at Newbury last time; effective 2m, acts on good to soft; still learning, more to come over hurdles.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% | |
| Hurdle | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| G | Similar Going | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | J M Quinlan | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Nick Scholfield | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Hampered by loose horse but easy winner outclassing rivals in a novice hurdle at Hereford last time; effective 2m, not proven at further, acts on heavy and good; capable of better.
Successful in two hurdle races at 1m 7f and 2m on good to soft and heavy ground. Won on her latest outing in a hurdle race when 1-2fav at Hereford over 2m (heavy) in February, beating Superkap by 1 1/4l. Has also won at Wincanton this season.
Hampered by loose horse but easy winner outclassing rivals in a novice hurdle at Hereford last time; effective 2m, not proven at further, acts on heavy and good; capable of better.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 6 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| Hurdle | 6 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 7 | 1 | 3 | 14.3% |
| G | Similar Going | 9 | 1 | 3 | 11.1% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 6 | 2 | 2 | 33.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 100% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Mr Joshua Newman | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| T | K Woollacott | 3 | 2 | 0 | 66.7% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Improved from debut when 4l third in a novice hurdle at Doncaster most recent run; gets 2m over hurdles, best with cut; unexposed over hurdles.
Unplaced in both starts over hurdles. Third of 4 behind Count Of Vendome beaten 4l at 33-1 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Doncaster over 2m 1f (good to soft) last month.
Improved from debut when 4l third in a novice hurdle at Doncaster most recent run; gets 2m over hurdles, best with cut; unexposed over hurdles.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9.1% |
| G | Similar Going | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 43 | 4 | 8 | 9.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Lee Edwards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | K Frost | 49 | 5 | 7 | 10.2% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Modest effort down the field in a maiden hurdle at Wincanton most recentrun; probably just stays 12f on the Flat, acted on good to soft and fast ground; loads to prove on hurdles debut, not least stamina.
Well beaten at 300-1 behind Aguellid when 11th of 18 on his NH debut in a maiden hurdle race at Wincanton over 1m 7f (good to soft) in February.
Modest effort down the field in a maiden hurdle at Wincanton most recentrun; probably just stays 12f on the Flat, acted on good to soft and fast ground; loads to prove on hurdles debut, not least stamina.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 13 | 1 | 0 | 7.7% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 18 | 2 | 0 | 11.1% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Charlie Price | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Mrs H R J Nelmes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Pulled up in a maiden hurdle at Wincanton on debut; stayed about 2m and acted on good in bumpers; disappointing start over hurdles.
Unplaced in all three starts. Pulled up 2 out when 100-1 at Wincanton over 1m 7f (soft) in a maiden hurdle race won by Sinchi Roca in January on his hurdling debut.
Pulled up in a maiden hurdle at Wincanton on debut; stayed about 2m and acted on good in bumpers; disappointing start over hurdles.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Similar Going | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Callum Pritchard | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | J W Mullins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Improved down in class when second beaten 4 1/2l in a novice hurdle at Huntingdon latest; effective 2m, acts on good, good to soft; can do better hurdling as a relation of useful Secret Squirrel.
Placed in a hurdle race and two NH flat races from five starts. Beaten 4 1/2l by Wandering Ego when second of 12 at 9-1 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Huntingdon over 2m (good) last month.
Improved down in class when second beaten 4 1/2l in a novice hurdle at Huntingdon latest; effective 2m, acts on good, good to soft; can do better hurdling as a relation of useful Secret Squirrel.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Paul O'Brien | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | H Morrison | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Yard won this last year; ran to form just tiring up the hill when 3l third in Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) at Cheltenham most recent run; effective 2m, acts on any; looks useful juvenile.
Successful in two hurdle races at 2m and 2m 1f on good and soft - heavy ground. Third of 10 behind Maestro Conti beaten 3l at 2-1fav on his latest outing in a Grade 2 hurdle race in the Group 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m 1f (soft) in January. Has won at Newbury and Fairyhouse this season.
Yard won this last year; ran to form just tiring up the hill when 3l third in Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) at Cheltenham most recent run; effective 2m, acts on any; looks useful juvenile.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% | |
| Hurdle | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| G | Similar Going | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Freddie Gingell | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | P F Nicholls | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| BF Was beaten favourite last time out | |||||
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
Secret Sniper has scope for progression and has a fair chance of getting off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles. However, MINELLA YOGA's third-placed finish in the Triumph Trial at Cheltenham readily eclipses that and, given that Paul Nicholls rates the four-year-old as one of his brightest prospects, the former champion trainer appears to hold a trump card. Lau And Shaz is the pick of the rest.
Expert View Verdict
This looks very likely to go to MINELLA YOGA who has looked useful at Newbury and Cheltenham in his last two starts. This should be easier company. Secret Sniper is progressing and can give the selection most to do. Lau And Shaz is third best having won at Wincanton and Hereford and being of a decent standard.
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Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good to Firm | 7 | Nardaran | 4 | 10 9 | - | 346 | 67 days | P F Nicholls (31 miles) | Harry Cobden | 9/ 4 | 3:53.87 | |
| 2024 | Soft | 14 | Secret Squirrel | 5 | 11 10 | - | 11122-4 | 37 days | H Morrison (102 miles) | David Bass | 10/ 3 | 4:09.32 | |
| 2023 | Good to Soft | 9 | Iliko D'olivate | 5 | 11 10 | - | 62-124P | 20 days | P F Nicholls (31 miles) | Bryony Frost | 7/ 4 | 4:09.00 | |
| 2022 | Good | 5 | Diligent | 9 | 11 8 | - | 121312 | 182 days | N J Hawke (23 miles) | Kieren Buckley | 7/ 2 | 4:00.93 | |
| 2021 | Good | 8 | Tulin | 4 | 11 0 | - | 511 | 24 days | P F Nicholls (31 miles) | Lorcan Williams | 4/ 11 | 3:56.83 |