Free horse racing tips: Simon Holt best bets for Thursday's ITV4 action

Recommended bets, Thursday November 12

1pt win Sweet Sting in 1.50 Clonmel at 6/1

1pt win Checkitout in 2.15 Ludlow at 10/3

1pt win Looksnowtlikebrian in 2.40 Taunton at 11/2

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ITV4 cameras provide a tasty aperitif to three days of exciting racing at Cheltenham on Thursday when LOOKSNOWTLIKEBRIAN can prove the value in the Arthur & Peggy White Memorial Handicap Chase at Taunton.

The Tim Vaughan-trained gelding has twice performed creditably this season with a tongue-tie fitted and stayed on well under Richard Johnson to take third behind Court Dreaming and Pop Rockstar at Carlisle last month in a race he won two years ago.

After that victory, Looksnowtlikebrian followed up by ten lengths on his next start earning a rating of 138 whereas he can run off 132 here.

A key factor is the former champion jockey who has won five times on this horse and it was noticeable how well he got the nine-year-old jumping last time. While the stable has been a bit quiet of late, Johnson's mount seems fit and well, enjoys going right handed and should go close.

The danger could be Pontresina, who hails from a yard in much better form - that of Oliver Sherwood - and, after just two runs over fences, is open to improvement.

However, the form of his victory at Kempton last time looks nothing to write home about as he beat the rank outsider Mortens Leam by just three-quarters of a length and, while he jumped soundly in the main, a bit more may be needed here.

In addition to two races at Taunton, ITV4 will broadcast four races from Clonmel where the talented Cilaos Emery is likely to start a warm favourite for the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase.

Fourth to Epatante in last season's Champion Hurdle, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding may have most to fear from his stable companion Bachasson, an easy winner over the course and distance in March.

The T A Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase is also high quality with the smart trio Cabaret Queen, Magic Of Light and Shattered Love likely to prove hard to split in the betting, and the preceding Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle could be the race to have a crack at with SWEET STING fancied to continue her recent progress.

A winner twice at Tipperary in October, the daughter of smart hurdler Sweet Kiln travelled further than the early explorers when fourth over this course and distance subsequently but came with a challenge in the straight before weakening late on into fourth, beaten less than four lengths.

Given that Sweet Sting must have given away much of that margin by racing wide throughout, she looks worth another chance.

Last year's winner Westerner Point (also second in 2017) is now 9lb higher now but still some way below his chasing mark and, despite advancing years, ran well to take third in the Munster National at Limerick on his latest start.

For one more selection, CHECKITOUT is an interesting runner in the Shukers Landrover Handicap Chase at Ludlow.

This chasing type was making his fencing debut for Nigel Twiston Davies (and his first run since a wind operation) when shaping well in what was a competitive novices' handicap at Uttoxeter last month when he stayed on into fifth behind the promising Demachine.

That form is already beginning to stack up with the second Morning Vicar going one better at Newbury last week while Northofthewall (fourth) was in front when falling at Aintree and also rans Mahlervous (second at Sandown) and Canelo (left clear by Northofthewall's fall at Aintree) have also provided boosts.

This step up in trip from two-miles-and-six-furlongs to an extended three-miles-and-one should suit Checkitout who looks a useful stayer in the making.

Posted 1525 GMT on 11/11/20

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