Ben Linfoot has the best bets from around the tracks on Thursday with the Nap running at Newcastle.
Thursday selections
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- LEITRIM CHIEF to place 1.35 Newcastle (3 places)
- LADY PRETENDER to place 2.25 Ludlow (3 places)
- TARGET MAN to win by 2L or more 7.00 Chelmsford
LEITRIM CHIEF – 1.35 Newcastle (NAP)
LEITRIM CHIEF can enjoy stepping up in trip to 2m4f in the novices’ handicap chase at Newcastle (1.35) on Thursday. The former point-to-pointer is bred for a trip, being a half-brother to useful stayer Masters Hill, and his current chase mark of 101 has come down from an initial 110 after three starts over two miles. A mistake at the first at Carlisle highlighted his struggles over that trip, but he has shown enough promise to think he can leave his form behind now he tackles another half mile.
LADY PRETENDER – 2.25 Ludlow
Venetia Williams can strike with LADY PRETENDER in division two of ‘The Commodore' Handicap Chase at Ludlow. This mare has been second four times over fences from seven goes without winning, but four of those were in France and there has been real promise in her last two efforts over two miles. Those runs have sharpened her jumping and I like her back up in trip to 2m4f which really should suit judging by her pedigree, while Williams’ good overall strike-rate at this track (17%) is even better in the month of January (20%).
MY SILVER LINING – 3.45 Wincanton
King Turgeon looks the key horse in the Somerset National (3.45) at Wincanton but this 3m3f trip in soft ground asks a new question of him off a career-high mark and it could be worth chancing a dour stayer against him. Step forward Emma Lavelle’s MY SILVER LINING, who was surely being prepared to defend her title in the Classic Chase at Warwick until the weather intervened. She has dropped back to a mark just 4lb higher than when she won the 2023 renewal of that race and there was promise in her Haydock third last time. With the cheekpieces applied first time she can go well.
TARGET MAN – 7.00 Chelmsford
George Boughey and Billy Loughnane can combine with TARGET MAN in the novice stakes at Chelmsford (7.00). The newly-gelded son of Earthlight has run consistently well in four all-weather starts without winning but progression is expected after three months off and the gelding operation. He’s probably the most likely leader amongst this quartet and Loughnane can dictate the fractions up front before seeing them all off.
Friday selections
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DEAFENING SILENCE - 1.15 Windsor (NAP)
It's a huge weekend for Dan and Harry Skelton with loads of decent prize-money up for grabs and the yard looks to be coming into it in very good form. It's hoped DEAFENING SILENCE has been aimed at this Windsor event for a while as he looks to be crying out for a move up to three miles based on his two chase starts to date. The latest came in a really hot race at Cheltenham (form has worked out already) and from an opening mark of 133, Deafening Silence looks nicely treated based on his classy novice hurdle form from last winter.
GRANDADS COTTAGE - 1.25 Market Rasen
The Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase is a decent event at Market Rasen and there seems little reason to jump ship from GRANDADS COTTAGE following his comeback win at Carlisle. Granted, he's been hit quite hard with a 9lb rise but looked on great terms with himself a month ago and he won here a couple of years ago too which bodes well. Olly Murphy's horses are in great nick and this lightly-raced chestnut is likely to be ridden a little closer to the pace on this occasion.
HEATHCLIFF - 2.10 Newcastle
HEATHCLIFF hasn't been seen for a while but we know he's a good horse fresh and it's unlikely trainer James Fanshawe has left an awful lot to work on fitness-wise. A big improver on the all-weather last year, the four-year-old is still creeping into these decent handicaps at the right end of the weights and he should get a decent pace to chase in this field (Timeform pace map suggests 'strong' early gallop). His stamina for a bit further is a great asset on the stiff course at Newcastle and a fifth career win would come as no surprise, especially with Tom Marquand in for the ride for the first time.
G'DAY MATE - 6.30 Southwell
Existent has all the ability in the world but he's also a bit of a nightmare if you're backing him as he constantly flatters to deceive. The recommendation is to take him on with Mick Appleby's G'DAY MATE, who was having his first run for 148 days when fourth of seven at Lingfield last month. He was a bit keen early on there in the first-time cheekpieces (retained on Friday) but the outing should have blown away the cobwebs and getting back over the minimum distance looks a decent move as his sole career success came over this trip as a juvenile.
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