Horse racing today, Thursday 12 November: Hereford, Market Rasen and Thurles guide
Governors Rock and Doctor Elvis are among Thursday’s short-priced favourites, while firm ground has forced Taunton to abandon its opening meeting.
By Everything Horse Editorial Team
12 November 2026
Horse racing today takes place at Hereford, Market Rasen and Thurles, with 21 races scheduled across Britain and Ireland. Thurles opens the programme at 11.43am and stages the final race at 3.48pm, while the two British meetings provide 13 races between them.
Taunton’s planned fixture will not go ahead. The racecourse confirmed that the ground remained too firm despite rainfall and irrigation, leaving it unable to stage its season opener.
Odds change throughout the day. Prices quoted below were available during research and may vary between bookmakers. Favourites can change following market movements and non-runners.
Today’s meetings and going
All times are UK and Irish local time.
| Racecourse | First race | Last race | Races | Reported going |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurles | 11.43am | 3.48pm | 8 | Good |
| Market Rasen | 12.06pm | 3.36pm | 7 | Good to soft, good in places |
| Hereford | 12.30pm | 3.25pm | 6 | Good to firm, good in places |
| Taunton | Abandoned | — | — | Ground too firm |
The contrast between the British venues is significant, with Hereford reporting appreciably quicker ground than Market Rasen. Watering has been reported at all three meetings going ahead.
Hereford: Governors Rock heads the novice hurdle market
Governors Rock is one of the afternoon’s shortest-priced favourites, heading the betting for the 1.05pm novices’ hurdle.
Warren Greatrex’s five-year-old, ridden by Caoilin Quinn, was quoted at 4/7 in the published market. Moscow Star was identified as the principal betting rival, with 7/2 available in a separate price comparison.
Later, Seraphic leads the published betting for the 2.50pm handicap hurdle over two miles. The six-year-old represents David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, with Kielan Woods booked to ride. His recent form figures include victories on his two latest starts, giving him an obvious claim to attention on the six-race card.
Hereford concludes with a mares’ maiden bumper at 3.25pm.
Market Rasen: maiden hurdles open a seven-race programme
The early races at Market Rasen bring Ballydine Boy and Ivor Bear into focus.
Ballydine Boy headed the published market at 5/4 for the 12.06pm maiden hurdle, while Ivor Bear was quoted at 11/8 for the 12.41pm maiden hurdle over an extended two miles and four furlongs.
The programme then moves to fences for the 1.16pm novices’ handicap chase and 1.51pm handicap chase, before three hurdle races complete the afternoon. The mares’ handicap hurdle at 3.01pm looks more open on the published betting, with Burning Embers only narrowly preferred.
Rail movements deserve particular attention here. The latest report adds 252 yards to the opening and closing races and 342 yards to the remaining five contests. Those changes make the actual distances substantially longer than the headline trips.
Thurles: Doctor Elvis seeks a maiden success
Doctor Elvis heads the betting for the 1.28pm Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, with 4/7 among the available prices.
Gordon Elliott’s runner is partnered by Jack Kennedy and arrives after finishing second at Galway. The extended two-mile-six-furlong contest gives him another opportunity to get off the mark, although the less-exposed Zambezi Moon offers opposition.
Thurles begins with three chases before switching to hurdles. The card ends with two divisions of the Two-Mile Borris Handicap Hurdle, scheduled for 3.15pm and 3.48pm.
Selected favourites at a glance
| Time | Course | Horse | Quoted odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.06pm | Market Rasen | Ballydine Boy | 5/4 |
| 12.41pm | Market Rasen | Ivor Bear | 11/8 |
| 1.05pm | Hereford | Governors Rock | 4/7 |
| 1.28pm | Thurles | Doctor Elvis | 4/7 |
These are published market leaders rather than editorial betting tips. Odds change throughout the day, and the quoted prices may no longer be available.
Looking ahead to Cheltenham
Cheltenham’s November Meeting follows from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November. Readers planning a visit can find upcoming fixtures and admission options through The Jockey Club’s racing tickets page, which also lists today’s Agriculture Raceday at Market Rasen.