Wincanton Picks

Wincanton racetrack celebrated its 150th birthday in 2017 and lies to the very east of Somerset with Taunton and Salisbury roughly 30 miles or so on either side. Along with Exeter, Newton Abbot and Taunton it forms part of a longstanding and strong West County jumps tradition that still thrives today. 

Access is gained from the sometimes tricky A303 but this friendly and ever-popular course is well worth the visit, especially given that competitive and often high-quality National Hunt racing is assured with strong support from numerous West Country trainers.

In Somerset alone, there are over 25 licensed trainers, including Paul Nicholls (Ditcheat, 10 miles away), Philip Hobbs (Minehead, 62 miles), David Pipe (Wellington, 45 miles), Jeremy Scott (Brompton Regis, 58 miles) and Nigel Hawke (Bridgwater, 32 miles).  Colin Tizzard is based just 10 miles away across the Dorset border and like Paul, has runners aplenty at this his local track. Consequently, racing at Wincanton always features horses from top yards.

Seventeen or so meetings take place each year between mid-October and mid-May and five of these usually fall at the weekends, although as mentioned before competitive action is nearly always served.  Wincanton is a gem of a place and a ‘proper’ winter jumps track.

Type of Racing: National Hunt Only

Highlights: The Badger Ales Trophy Chase (November) run since 1962 and the Kingwell Hurdle (February), a known Champion Hurdle trial are the annual highlights.

* All statistics below are based on the previous five years at Wincanton

Wincanton Outright Favourite Statistics

• Handicap Chases: 42-142 (30%) -16.85
• Handicap Hurdles: 29-132 (22%) -44.70
• Non-Handicap Chases: 14-27 (52%) -2.34
• Non-Handicap Hurdles: 61-123 (50%) -13.45

Right Handed, one mile three furlong circuit which rides very sharp. Mainly flat with slight undulations, the approach and turn into the home straight is a little downhill.

Wincanton Racecourse Address: Wincanton Racecourse, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8BJ

Wincanton Racecourse Telephone Number: 01963 435840

To buy tickets for a race day at Wincanton, head over to their official ticket booking webpage.

With such a hive of training activity nearby, money tends to talk. Being at the heart of a buoyant West Country racing scene any betting moves for horses trained locally should be noted, especially ‘early moves’ the night before, or early in the morning.

Of particular interest is where a betting move for a horse representing a smaller local yard is observed. Similarly, any local horses ‘on the drift’ should be noted and are best avoided. The OLBG horse racing tipsters will be aware and will advise via their informative pick comments.   

The track itself rides fairly sharp, meaning it favours prominent runners over known hold-up horses and many a race has been won from the front at Wincanton. The ground can get quite soft in the harsh winter months which brings stamina into play if the leaders go off too quick but generally when the ground is riding decent then the nippy front runners can get the staying types off the bridle fairly quickly.

Like many other tracks, the fences are not as stiff and formidable as they used to be but are still a true test, especially the three up the home straight which come soon after the turn for home. Evidence of this was witnessed at Christmas, 2016 when all nine runners in a handicap chase fell or refused with the race eventually being declared void. A wide-berth should be given to chancy novices or horses with a history of letters in their form figures.

If there are no Wincanton tips available then head over to the main racing tips page for today's picks from around the globe.

Who are the best national hunt jockeys and trainers to bet on at Wincanton?

When looking at profitable trainers only, then it is Miss E C Lavelle who leads the way with a total of twelve winners producing an LSP of +9.47 whilst P F Nicholls leads the overall list with eighty-nine winners but shows a loss overall. When looking at trainers and looking for some eachway value at Wincanton then the trainer who shows the best eachway profit is Mrs Alex Dunn, that LSP is +59.42 which has been accumulated by a total of ten placings which includes five winners. J W Mullins does not have a great record at Wincanton, their LSP of -84.00 has them stone dead bottom of the trainers' list, which has come from two winners from ninety-seven runners which is a 2% strike rate.

Focusing only on jockeys who show a profit when backing all of their rides, top of the pile at Wincanton for the number of winners is Harry Cobden who has produced a total of sixty-six winners in return for an LSP of +9.70. Jordan Nailor is the jockey to follow at Wincanton if you are backing eachway as they show the best LSP of all the jockeys in the eachway markets, that is +31.12 which is courtesy of their ten placings (six winners). At the other end of the spectrum is J A Best who has a terrible record at Wincanton, of all the jockeys their LSP of -102.00 is the worse, they have a 4% strike rate with five winners from one hundred thirty-nine rides.

Wincanton Picks & Hints

Here are some factors at Wincanton for certain trainers or jockeys which have been profitable:

• 6-14 (43%) +28.62 - Backing Miss E C Lavelle runners when horses are aged 6yo
• 8-18 (44%) +27.54 - Backing Lorcan Williams rides when on horses aged 5yo
• 26-45 (58%) +23.55 - Backing Harry Cobden rides when in a Novices Hurdle race
• 35-70 (50%) +22.31 - Backing P F Nicholls runners when in a Novices Hurdle race
• 6-7 (86%) +21.05 - Backing Daryl Jacob rides when on horses aged 8yo

Wincanton Top Jockey and Trainer Combinations

Here are the best trainer and jockey combinations here at Wincanton based on the number of winners:

• 48 Wins: P F Nicholls & Harry Cobden
• 14 Wins: C L Tizzard & Harry Cobden
• 11 Wins: P F Nicholls & Lorcan Williams
• 8 Wins: P F Nicholls & Bryony Frost
• 8 Wins: P F Nicholls & Sam Twiston-Davies

Wincanton Top Trainers By Most Winners and a Level Stakes Profit

Wincanton Top Jockeys By Most Winners and a Level Stakes Profit