Five meetings again head to post on Thursday, and the day’s jumps racing action comes from the meetings at Newcastle and Taunton, as well as from Warwick where the Listed Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices Chase heads the afternoon’s action.
Meanwhile, the evening all-weather racing come from Wolverhampton’s card on tapeta as well as the Chelmsford polytrack.
Warwick (jumps) – 12.20 – 3.30pm (7 races)
Newcastle (jumps) – 12.40 – 3.20pm (6 races)
Taunton (jumps) – 1.00 – 3.40pm (6 races)
Wolverhampton (flat, aw) – 3.35 – 6.05pm (6 races)
Chelmsford (flat, aw) – 3.50 – 7.20pm (8 races)
BRIAN HEALY’S NAP OF THE DAY FOR THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER
WARWICK TIPS
(12.50) FIRAK (5/2, Paddy Power) shaped well on his hurdles debut at Chepstow in October, finishing four lengths’ fourth behind Sevarano, and the Fuisse gelding can get off the mark at the second attempt with that run and experience under his belt.
Previously a winner between the flats for Donnchadh Doyle, he ought to come on for that first run which was his first in almost seven months, and the form has been boosted since by the winner going in again next time in a decent race at Newbury last month.
He can step up on that effort and likely to improve then it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him going well here.
(1.20) MAIRE BANRIGH (5/4, BetVictor) has looked a different animal since having wind surgery, winning back-to-back races over hurdles either side of six months off at Market Rasen and Carlisle; and Dan Skelton’s charge is 2-2 over fences this term.
The King’s Theatre mare struck impressively at Stratford in October, and she stepped up on that effort to lower the colours of Thomas Darby at this venue last month, jumping well and making all the running before finding enough to hold off the runner-up.
This is tougher upped in grade, while she has to prove as effective over this longer trip; but there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree, and she is a previous point-to-point winner so could well have more to offer over the larger obstacles so every chance she can bring up her hat-trick of chase wins here.
12.20 – Sainte Doctor
12.50 – Firak
1.20 – Maire Banrigh
1.55 – Innisfree Lad
2.25 – Good News
3.00 – Darling Alko
3.30 – Heart Of A Lion
Maire Banrigh can continue her winning spree at Warwick where she has won before.
TAUNTON TIPS
(1.30) NOT NEVER (4/7, Coral) doesn’t appear to take much racing in quick succession, but the Notnowcato gelding has won his share of races nonetheless, and Gary Moore’s charge shaped as if in need of his reappearance at Plumpton in November when finishing sixth of nine runners behind Dan Mcgrue.
That was his first run in almost five months, and the form looks fair with the runner-up since filling the same spot in a Grade Three contest, while the fifth has since won next time up.
He has been eased 1lb in the handicap but drops into a seller here, and if coming on for that reappearance effort then he ought to take plenty of beating in this contest where he could prove to be a class apart from his rivals in what looks to be a relatively weak affair.
(2.05) FROM THE HEART (10/3, Unibet) shaped with some promise with tackling fences for the first time at Huntingdon last month, and Philip Hobbs’ charge can show progress for that experience where he can go one better here.
The Jeremy gelding finished thirteen lengths behind Master Vintage on that occasion, and he turns out here from the same mark where he could show improvement on the back of his first outing over the larger obstacles which ought to have taught him plenty.
Rated higher over hurdles, he remains with scope to do better as a chaser and he could be worth chancing to step up on his first taste of fences and get off the mark now.
12.30 – Masters Legacy
1.00 – Wild Max
1.30 – Not Never
2.05 – From The Heart
2.35 – Birds Of Prey
3.10 – Pointed And Sharp
3.40 – Layerthorpe
NEWCASTLE TIPS
(2.15) HEY BOB (4/1, William Hill) had run well in defeat in the wake of his win at Catterick back in March, and the Big Bad Bob gelding got back to winning ways at Sedgefield latest when returned to a much slower surface.
Chris Grant’s charge ran out an eight lengths’ victor over Snowed In on that occasion, but he wasn’t able to back up that performance latest when finishing almost thirty lengths’ adrift of Wor Verge at Hexham last month.
The runner-up in that race has won since, and having been eased 1lb in the weights he could go well in a weak race so it wouldn’t come as a huge surprise to see him in the mix.
(2.50) GLINGER FLAME (SP) could be worth chancing on his return from almost seven months off the track, and Nicky Richards’ charge can continue his race-by-race progress.
The Daylami gelding has won his last three starts – all at Hexham – on better ground than he encounters here; but he finished runner-up on his last start on soft ground at Ayr back in January and so these conditions hopefully won’t prove against him.
He is 3-3 in cheekpieces, and while he switches to chasing for his return to action his shrewd yard are sure to have prepared him well for this assignment. Assuming he’s fit to go on his reappearance then he can make a winning reappearance.
12.40 – Starplex
1.10 – Urbanist
1.45 – Orrisdale
2.15 – Hey Bob
2.50 – Glinger Flame
3.20 – Call Me Freddie
Nicky Richards can saddle a winner at Newcastle on Thursday.
WOLVERHAMPTON TIPS
(4.05) KYBOSH (3/1, Ladbrokes) has twice finished third over an extended mile at this course, and Michael Appleby’s charge could be worth sticking with to get off the mark here.
The Dansili gelding rounded off his time with Ed Walker when finishing almost nine lengths’ third behind Antico Lady here in May, and he was possibly stretched over the longer trip on turf at Yarmouth nine days later.
However, having since switched yards and returning from a break he was only beaten two lengths latest behind Tio Esteban, and he could go well here from the same mark where an extra furlong ought to be within his scope.
He is still relatively unexposed, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him competitive again in a fairly uninspiring contest.
(5.35) GODDESS OF FIRE (2/1, Coral) readily got back on the scoresheet over this course and distance on Tuesday, beating Ami Li Bert by almost two lengths, and John Ryan’s charge can follow up here under her penalty.
The Toronado filly carries a 6lbs penalty for that success, but the manner of her victory suggested she could have more to offer and her penalty is offset by the use of a 7lbs claimer so she could go close in her follow-up bid if those exertions haven’t taken something out of her.
A similar effort could be good enough to see her follow up here, and likely still progressive she can go well.
3.35 – Isabella Ruby
4.05 – Kybosh
4.35 – Yasir
5.05 – Holy Eleanor
5.35 – Goddess Of Fire
6.05 – I Think So
Wolverhampton are in action on Thursday evening.
CHELMSFORD TIPS
(4.50) MY LADY CLAIRE (SP) has shown patchy form thus far during her time with Ed Walker, with her best performance for that handler coming at Brighton in July when finding only Orobas too strong. Now with Patrick Charmings, she ran a much better race despite only finishing sixth on just her second start for her new handler here last month, and she could be worth chancing to improve on that performance.
She was only beaten two lengths on that occasion, keeping on well, and the form has been franked by the winner going in again since. The handicapper could be taking a chance by easing her 2lbs in the weights, and the Cityscape filly sports a first-time visor which could elicit some further improvement.
This is a poor contest, and while she hasn’t been the most consistent this represents her easiest assignment to date; if she can build on that latest step back in the right direction then it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see her going close.
(5.20) THE GILL BROTHERS (7/2, William Hill) was thwarted in his hat-trick attempt here two weeks ago when denied a clear run at a crucial stage, eventually finishing third; but the Mukhadram gelding can quickly get back on track here.
Stuart Williams’ charge had won both previous starts at Kempton and here, the latter coming over seven furlongs; and he was still going well when meeting traffic problems and conceding first run on what was his handicap debut.
However, he could be worth siding with again to quickly bounce back from just 1lb higher in the weights, and no shock to see him post a big effort in a useful looking contest.
3.50 – Indie Angel
4.20 – Beat The Breeze
4.50 – My Lady Claire
5.20 – The Gill Brothers
5.50 – Spirit Of May
6.20 – Clap Your Hands
6.50 – Canasta
7.20 – Muraaqeb
BRIAN HEALY’S BEST BETS FOR THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER
12.50 Warwick – FIRAK (5/2, Paddy Power)
1.20 Warwick – MAIRE BANRIGH (5/4, BetVictor)
1.30 Taunton – NOT NEVER (4/7, Coral)
2.05 Taunton – FROM THE HEART (10/3, Unibet)
2.15 Newcastle – HEY BOB (4/1, William Hill)
2.50 Newcastle – GLINGER FLAME (SP)
4.05 Kempton – KYBOSH (3/1, Ladbrokes)
4.50 Chelmsford – MY LADY CLAIRE (SP)
5.20 Chelmsford – THE GILL BROTHERS (7/2, William Hill)
5.35 Kempton – GODDESS OF FIRE (2/1, Coral)