There is a mix of jumps and flat racing across the UK and Ireland today, with seven meetings scheduled across the afternoon and into the evening.
First off is Warwick (1.23-4.35) before they go at Bellewstown (1.35-5.15), Southwell (2.00-5.10), Salisbury (2.10-4.50) and Clonmel (2.15-5.25), Newcastle (4.00-8.10) and finally Chelmsford (5.00-8.30).
Among our Thursday fancies is one for the in-form Olly Murphy who won well on chase debut last month at Worcester and hinted there could be more to come.
Horse racing tips today – Warwick, Salisbury and Southwell
Jake Aldrich’s picks for Thursday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
- Nap: Roccovango (Warwick, 2.55) @ SP with BetMGM
- Next best: Small Fry (Salisbury, 4.50) @ SP with BetMGM
- Other: In The Air (Southwell, 4.10) @ SP with BetMGM
Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.
Horse racing tips: Warwick, 2.55
We head to the Midlands for the first chase race on the card, a Limited Handicap with a small but select field. The powerful Skelton yard could prove to be popular here, with Asta La Pasta who has a nice improving profile.
He won three of his six starts over hurdles and will need to be at the top of his game when making his chase debut, but he lacks a recent run – and that could prove to be the difference.
With that in mind, this brings us to ROCCOVANGO, who represents Murphy’s in-form yard. This eight-year-old has already shown a liking for the larger obstacles.
He ran 22 days ago at Worcester over the same trip in a Class 4 handicap chase, travelling nicely with a good round of jumping. Although wandering around when he hit the front, he did stay on well to the line and there should be more in the tank.
The handicapper has put him up 6lb for that success but that may not be enough to stop him going in again. Murphy has had four winners from 10 runners in the past 14 days and jockey Sean Bowen gets on well with this horse, with three victories from four outings.
A few of the seven-strong field have questions to answer after previously not showing they like chasing. By contrast, the Ocovango gelding can put his race fitness and jumping experience to good use here and get the job done.
Selection: Roccovango @ SP with BetMGM
Horse racing tips: Salisbury, 4.50
The last race at the Wiltshire venue looks like another great opportunity for SMALL FRY to see off his rivals and make it three victories on the bounce.
This three-year-old gelding for Gary and Joshua Moore has won three of his past four starts in handicaps and needs to be taken seriously here, having confirmed he is at the top of his game.
He was first in comfortable style at Chester 12 days ago over this trip. Always well positioned and quickly putting the race to bed, he could have won by a bigger margin than the actual one-and-a-quarter lengths, suggesting that he has untapped reserves.
The handicapper has put him up another 6lb in what is a slightly better race. But as a lightly raced sort, and with connections who do well with similar types, he remains the one to beat.
Selection: Small Fry @ SP with BetMGM
Horse racing tips: Southwell, 4.10
IN THE AIR has been disappointing since he joined Adam West back in January, struggling to show anything in five runs having previously displayed glimpses of form when with Gary Moore.
He finished second to Jpr One in a handicap hurdle at Taunton back in March last year and that was followed up with a win at Fontwell, so he has shown flashes of his ability.
This gelding has now joined the powerful yard of Nicky Henderson, which can only be seen as a positive, especially with the booking of Nico de Boinville.
The trainer has a 31 per cent win record at this Nottinghamshire venue, so it is always worth a look when he sends one here.
In The Air was rated as high as 120 over hurdles. Now as a six-year-old and running off a tumbling mark of 106, he is a much better horse than that and he should be hard to beat if ready to roll off this rating and handy weight.
Selection: In The Air @ SP with BetMGM