Ben Linfoot had a couple of winners on Wednesday and now Matt Brocklebank has the Thursday best bets.
Thursday selections
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SPACE PARTY - 16:05 Newmarket (NAP)
There are a couple of last-time-out winners in this field but nothing appeals quite as much as SPACE PARTY, who hails from a Henry Candy yard with a fine track record when it comes to improving sprinters. The gelded son of Space Blues was showing some promising signs in maiden/novice company earlier in the year before returning from another short break to post a decent second (beaten a nose) on handicap debut at Kempton earlier in the month. He gets another chance off exactly the same mark (77) here, despite the winner just missing out in a much stronger race subsequently, and he won't need much more improvement to hit the target at the fifth time of asking.
BOULTYDOOLIN - 15:46 Ffos Las
BOULTYDOOLIN probably won't be alone here in starting out over fences on the right side of the handicapper but a mark of 127 does look particularly generous based on quite striking Chepstow maiden hurdle win in the middle of March. The point winner was bought (£95,000) for fences no doubt, is bred for the game and he's highly likely to appreciate every drop of rain that's fallen in Wales of late. It's only the presence of a couple of other promising types in opposition preventing Boultydoolin from being the Nap selection.
WILFUL - 16:12 Carlisle
Golden Ace hasn't been one to trust entirely first time back in the past and she has no easy task in the Listed Panoramic Hurdle at Carlisle on Thursday. Burdett Road is fit from the Flat but doesn't exactly look at his peak in that sphere so the two to focus on could be Rubaud and WILFUL, with preference at the weights for the 153-rated latter runner, who receives 2lb from Rubaud. Jonjo (and now together with A J) O'Neill has always had a good time of things early in the season at the Cumbria track, his strike-rate here during the months of October and November a very decent 23.08% (overall strike-rate in same months is 14.35%), while Wilful has won when fresh in the past so might not take much to get ready at home.
GUNFIGHTER - 8:30 Southwell
The penalty makes life tougher but there's no question GUNFIGHTER scorer with a little bit up his sleeve over this trip at Kempton last week and he's technically 1lb well-in under the mandatory 5lb extra as the assessor has bumped him up to a mark of 77 for future assignments. The fact he can still squeeze in at the top of this 0-75 handicap looks a pointer in itself and he's won at this venue in the past too so has plenty of boxes ticked on paper.
Friday selections
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BETTER OFF ALONE - 16:45 Cheltenham (NAP)
A switch to front-running tactics with a visor on for the first time sparked an upturn in form from BETTER OFF ALONE at Uttoxeter earlier this month and his race-fitness should be put to good use as he looks to follow up from a 6lb higher mark in Cheltenham's concluding amateur jockeys' handicap chase. He was idling on the run-in last time and looked good value for the win so while up in grade here, confidence is bound to be soaring and the son of Ocavango has got bits of soft-ground form in the book too.
FIRST TIME - 16:30 Doncaster
FIRST TIME caught the eye in a big way at York last time, travelling best of all before not quite being able to repel the challenge of stablemate Golden Strike. He's gone up 2lb in the weights but still remains well treated on the pick of his form and dropping back to six furlongs on ground with some ease in it could be the ideal move for a horse who remains unexposed wearing visors (this will be just his third try in the headgear).
STONEY WOOD – 18:00 Wolverhampton
Michael Bell has a good record in Wolverhampton nurseries and his STONEY WOOD looks another likely type in the AWC Finals Day At Newcastle 26th March Nursery Handicap at 18:00. The Cotai Glory colt is getting better with racing and his second at Southwell last time was a career best. With Billy Loughnane back in the plate he can improve again in a race which won’t take much winning.
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