Racing tips for Thursday
AINTREE: 11.55 Little Miss Dante, 12.30 Westerninthepark, 1.05 Potters Charm, 1.40 Act Of Authority, 2.15 Ikarak, 2.50 Doyen Du Bar, 3.25 Dalston Lad.
DOWN ROYAL: 11.40 Air Of Entitlement, 12.13 Downmexicoway, 12.48 Backfromtheraces, 1.23 Step Out, 1.58 Cullenwaine, 2.33 Angels Dawn, 3.08 Theflyingking.
FONTWELL: 11.57 Motazzen, 12.32 Malinificent, 1.07 Greenrock Abbey, 1.42 Galactic Charm, 2.17 Hidden History, 2.52 Instant Gambler, 3.27 Gentleman Toboot.
KEMPTON: 12.45 Asta La Pasta, 1.20 Hyland, 1.55 Lossiemouth, 2.30 BANBRIDGE (NAP), 3.05 Kientzheim, 3.40 Samuel Spade.
LEOPARDSTOWN: 12.00 Kopek Des Bordes, 12.35 Redemption Day, 1.10 Willy De Houelle, 1.45 Shraheen, 2.20 Better Days Ahead, 2.55 The King Of Prs, 3.30 Ma Jacks Hill.
LIMERICK: 12.25 Lakota Blue, 12.58 Karamoja, 1.33 The Big Westerner, 2.08 Lady Of The Locke, 2.40 Foxy Girl, 3.15 Sea Road Fill, 3.50 Hurricane Bailey.
MARKET RASEN: 12.08 We’llhavewan, 12.40 Dunworley, 1.15 Indeevar Bleu, 1.47 Kelce, 2.22 Denemethy, 2.57 Traveling Soldier, 3.32 Gilbertina.
SEDGEFIELD: 11.45 Pigeon House, 12.20 Blackwater Lilly, 12.50 Fearless Action, 1.25 Knacker Trapper, 2.00 Yealand, 2.35 Harper Valley, 3.10 Kingston Queen.
WETHERBY: 11.52 Just Call Me Lucy, 12.27 Fiadh, 1.00 Just Chasing May, 1.35 Some Scope, 2.10 Grain d’Oudairies, 2.45 Willaston, 3.20 Treasured Company.
WINCANTON: 12.53 Walkadina, 1.28 Another Day Out, 2.03 Passing Well, 2.38 First Lord De Cuet, 3.13 King Arise, 3.45 Lumi Plugin.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.12 Specified, 1.50 Layla Liz, 2.25 Payment Plan, 3.00 Civil Law, 3.35 Overnight Oats, 4.05 Claymore, 4.35 Christian David, 5.05 My Boy Jack, 5.40 Fact Or Fable.
DOUBLE: Banbridge and Lossiemouth.
Banbridge is fancied to take the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase trophy back to Ireland for the third time in four years.
Tornado Flyer came out on top in 2021 and Hewick famously flew home from way back to snatch the spoils at Kempton last season.
A strong raiding party will head over from the Emerald Isle once again and Banbridge is rated the pick.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge has already proven himself a good traveller, scoring twice at Cheltenham, landing a Grade One novice chase at Aintree and beating Pic d’Orhy at this venue back in January.
Stepping up to three miles should be no problem judged on that course victory and the way he kept on strongly to win the Martin Pipe race over hurdles at the 2022 Festival.
Banbridge was below par on his seasonal reappearance at Navan but ran a cracker when pushing Energumene hard in the Hilly Way at Cork until carried right and unseating his rider at the final fence.
There will be no concerns over ground conditions and this well-tested eight-year-old may just be that little bit more battle-hardened than some promising young rivals.
Opposing Constitution Hill feels like something of a betrayal but Lossiemouth must surely be regarded as the percentage pick in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle.
Last season’s Mares’ Hurdle winner already has a run under her belt this term and created a big impression when beating Teahupoo in a decisive manner in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse.
Dropping back down to two miles on a sharp track and decent ground might not be ideal, but a 7lb mares’ allowance more than makes up for it, especially as Nicky Henderson’s superstar has so much to prove following a year off.
Asta La Pasta can benefit from moving back up in distance after just being tapped for toe at Newbury last time out and appeals for the Skeltons in the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Hyland may just be further on in his development than The Jukebox Man with regards jumping fences and gets the nod in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
At Aintree, Potters Charm sets a strong standard in the Grade One William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle for the Twiston-Davies team.
The five-year-old looked to have a serious engine when powering up the hill to beat a decent yardstick in Valgrand by 11 lengths at Cheltenham and the long home straight in Liverpool can play to his strengths.
Some Scope looked to be getting back on track when fourth in the Rehearsal at Newcastle after previously being pulled up at Cheltenham and is worth each-way support in Wetherby’s William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.
On the opening day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival, Gordon Elliott looks to be holding all the aces in the Grade One Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase and Better Days Ahead is just preferred to stablemates Croke Park and Stellar Story.
Much-vaunted French import Willy De Houelle was upset by Naturally Nimble on his first start for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse but is expected to avenge that defeat in the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle.
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