Ben Linfoot was among the winners on Wednesday and Matt Brocklebank returns with his best bets from around the tracks on Thursday.
Thursday selections
MISS ATTITUDE - 7.00 Newcastle (NAP)
MISS ATTITUDE didn't fully deliver on her potential last year but she had spent a long time off the track, missing the entirety of her three-year-old career and more, and perhaps she's only now really reaching maturity as a five-year-old sprinter. Her recent comeback win at Southwell - when wearing a tongue-tie and cheekpieces combination for the first time - certainly left that impression and the narrow margin of victory (had something up her sleeve after hitting the front) means she's only gone up 3lb for the win. Newcastle's stiff five furlongs should really suit and Jack Channon's horses are in good order so she looks the one to be on in the north east.
SIBERIAN STAR - 3.10 Sedgefield
Sean Bowen takes over from Shane Fenelon on SIBERIAN STAR at Sedgefield, where the champion jockey-elect has a 20% strike-rate down the years. This horse arrives in good heart too, following placed efforts at Warwick and Doncaster, and although nudged back up the handicap for his troubles, a revised mark of 102 does not look beyond him as he won at Catterick off 98 earlier in the year. He's seemingly a strong stayer and a pretty safe conveyance to boot so should go really well unless it turns into a complete crawl (often held up, although Bowen will be well aware of that danger you'd have thought).
STELLAR STREAM - 4.05 Chepstow
Chepstow's marathon handicap chase is a pretty open affair but eight-year-old STELLAR STREAM is one of the least exposed in the field and he's competing off hos last successful mark (105) at the moment. Second to subsequent Kempton winner Katate Dori here in early-January, he promises to be suited by a return to this longer trip, having won over similar at Bangor last February, and seeing as that victory came when sporting cheekpieces for the first time, a switch to blinkers on Thursday could surely spark a little more from improvement from Kayley Woollacott's charge.
OSTRAVA DU BERLAIS - 3.55 Ludlow
Dan Skelton's Rock House is a threat if taking to chasing at the first time of asking but preference is for OSTRAVA DU BERLAIS. She won here at Ludlow and at Taunton earlier in the campaign and is now only 4lb higher than for that latest success. The mare can jump better than her latest Warwick display and hopefully stepping back up to this intermediate trip will allow her to get into a better rhythm out in front. She seems likely to get the run of things and Charlie Deutsch can be most effective in that scenario.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE – 2.30 Newbury (NAP)
LEAVE OF ABSENCE can exploit a mark of 127 now he switches to handicaps in the Focus Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Newbury. Anthony Honeyball’s horse has shown real promise in both chasing starts so far, finishing second to Iberico Lord in a hot little race at Kempton before he was plunged into the Reynoldstown at Ascot last time. That was a tough task but he lost nothing in defeat 24 lengths behind The Changing Man, picking up £17k for the silver medal and keeping his rating as it is. The experience will have done him good and, back at galloping Newbury where he was so impressive in winning his bumper, he can land this handicap pot.
ROUGE DE L’QUEST – 3.40 Ffos Las
Rebecca Curtis’ ROUGE DE L’QUEST likes better ground and he can bounce back at a track he loves in the “West Wales National” Handicap Chase at Ffos Las. The nine-year-old won at this course by 13 lengths last March and he was a head away from going in again a month later over the course and distance on similar going. He was on a roll in the tongue-tie and blinkers combination then and after trying a visor last time he’s back in the ‘tb’ for this assignment under Ben Jones.
SPARTAN TIMES – 4.55 Southwell
Jennie Candlish’s horses are in the groove and she can extend her good recent run with SPARTAN TIMES in the 1m4f apprentice handicap that opens the Southwell card. This four-year-old clearly likes a Tapeta surface and he’s unexposed at the trip, while a tongue-tie is added to his equipment. Warren Fentiman is a great jockey booking in this type of race and, given he is 4 from 7 for the yard, the Spartan Times team probably mean business on Friday.
HEART ABOVE – 5.00 Musselburgh
Dianne Sayer’s HEART ABOVE looks to have been primed for a go at the Racing Post Go North Sea Pigeon Hurdle Series Final at Musselburgh. The seven-year-old finished second in the Kelso qualifier before winning the Musselburgh one and was then put away, avoiding the worst of the deep midwinter ground, before returning after 80 days off back at this track last time. Hampered after four out, he ran on nicely for third and, with the promise of improvement from that effort to come, he looks the one to beat.
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2025 winners
- Regarde 5/2
- Gemmari 11/4 (NAP)
- Timetoshine 9/4
- Tuco Salamanca 7/4
- Jagwar 3/1 (NAP)
- Penzance 3/1
- Youdecide 15/8
- Pururhandstogether 17/2 (NAP)
- The Organiser 6/5
- Skin Full 13/8
- Millie Supreme 9/2
- Heads Or Harps 11/8
- Party Vibes 7/2
- I See The Sea 2/1
- Le Tiep's Sacre 100/30
- Born In The West 2/1 (NAP)
- Awaythelad 9/2
- Charmaine 2/1 (NAP)
- Henrysbrotherjack 11/8 (NAP)
- Outer Banks 9/1
- Elterwater 5/2
- Glen Buck 10/11 (NAP)
- Teddy Blue 7/2 (NAP)
- Ray Gun 18/5
- Sun Keeper 5/1
- Jackpot Cash 3/1 (NAP)
- Arcadian Nights 100/30
- Leadenhall Street 5/4 (NAP)
- Pic D'Orhy 9/5
- Golden Ace 6/5
- Myretown 5/2 (NAP)
- Apiarist 11/2
- Sainte Doctor 4/1
- Plage De Lavre 5/4
- Aviemore 4/1
- Rey De La Batalla 11/2
- New Found Fame 6/1
- Pilgrims King 5/1
- Saint Anapolino 10/3
- Blue Anthem 5/1
- Buzz Box 5/2
- Dance In The Storm 8/11
- Northern Cracksman 9/4
- Kylian 9/4
- Sol Cayo 2/1
- George's Lad 10/11
- Beauty Generation 15/8
- Komedy Kicks 11/4 (NAP)
- Our Havana 6/1
- Manara 2/1
- Jimmy Knocker 13/2
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