
Thirsk Racecourse presents a busy eight-race card on Wednesday afternoon, hosting a variety of puzzling novice races and handicaps.
Read on for a preview of Thirk’s Wednesday card, including tips, courtesy of Racing TV, who provide information on the latest free bets.
The two-year-olds kick off the afternoon with a restricted novice race over six furlongs (2.03). Most of the 11 runners are trained locally to Thirsk, but Newmarket-based trainer sends Magic Stone into the mix; an Acclamation colt who was only beaten by half a length last time out at Chepstow. The journey might be a tip in itself, but this colt is well related and has lots of potential to live up to. Tropical Dreamer and Dandy Style might be the next best two.
Next is the first division of a mile novice for those aged three and over (2.33). Another coming from a long way away for this race is Charlie Hills’ Arf’s Duchess, who ran a fair race behind subsequent Group One winner Whirl in a valuable Doncaster fillies’ maiden last year. She is entitled to have taken a decent step forward since then, and could be being sent up to Thirsk to come home a winner, especially with Oisin Murphy riding. Debutant Divine Knight was a very expensive purchase and could be worth a look for Sean Woods, but another Willie Haggas runner, First Principle, brings well-franked form to this race, having won on the all-weather in December, and looks the strongest contender.
Division two of the same race follows (3.03). Godolphin’s Gentle Touch has the best form on show, having been second to the talented City Of Poets on three-year-old debut, but Charlie Johnston’s debutant Saxon Lover does look like a smart prospect for the in-form stable, and may prove to be a better fit for this distance than the Godolphin runner, based on his pedigree.
Race four is the first division of a seven-furlong handicap (3.33). John and Sean Quinn’s course and distance winner Highfield Viking is given a chance by the handicapper here, staying on the same mark as last time when he wasn’t beaten far at Doncaster in a tight finish. This ought to be within reach for him, but he must contend with Gemma Tutty’s Arantes Nascimento who looks likely to pounce in this company under Tom Marquand.
The second division is next (4.03). Ivan Furtado’s Electric Avenue is the only one with a win under his belt already this term, but he may now need to slide back down the handicap to back it up. Course and distance winner Langholm has been in good order lately, running well on his last two appearances. At the bottom of the handicap today, given five pounds by Rhys Elliott, he should have nowhere to hide.
The sixth race is a mile and half three-year-olds’ handicap, consisting of only four runners (4.38). Andrew Balding sends Topteam a long way from home for this, seeking a hat-trick having won his last two starts at Chester, but he has risen quite sharply in the weights since his last success. David O’Meara’s Raulin appears to be the talking horse here, having come down a pound since being beaten five lengths in Topteam’s latest race. Given a clearer run at this track, he might be able to reverse the form, but it will not be a straightforward task.
The penultimate race is a good quality six-furlong handicap (5.13). Roberto Caro went close last time out at York in a very tight finish and, having only risen a pound, could win this having already picked up a course and distance win a year ago. Mythical Phoenix can also take a step forward from a good reappearance in conditions which agree with him, for Julie Camacho’s in-form stable.
Finally, a six-furlong handicap rounds off the afternoon’s proceedings (5.48). With a large field size of 18, it’s an open contest, but Golden Prosperity does look to have a strong chance for Tony Coyle and Kaine Wood. His last two showings have been good, beaten just a length last time, and winning at Nottingham prior to that, but his mark remains fair and he is given three pounds by his rider. Canaria Queen also looks primed to go well here and can be at the sharp end.
Thirsk selections – Wednesday:
- 2.03 – Magic Stone
- 2.33 – First Principle
- 3.03 – Saxon Lover
- 3.33 – Arantes Nascimento
- 4.03 – Langholm
- 4.38 – Raulin
- 5.13 – Roberto Caro
- 5.48 – Golden Prosperity
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