Horse Racing Tips on Thursday, May 26
There are six race fixtures scheduled across the UK and Ireland on Thursday 26th May, with the action coming from Carlisle, Haydock, Ripon, Sandown, Yarmouth and Limerick. Our expert editor has produced their top tips across the cards, which make up our advised Thursday Lucky 15.
Cathayensis (1:10 Haydock)
A three-time winner on Newcastle’s all-weather surface, CATHAYENSIS has only had two starts on the turf so far but certainly hinted last time out at Redcar that a fourth career success may not be all that far away.
Backed at lengthy odds beforehand, Grant Tuer’s filly started to become outpaced at the halfway stage over the mile trip. Still left with plenty to do inside the final couple of furlongs, Cathayensis started to make notable late headway under 3lb claimer Oliver Stammers, and whilst the four-year-old filly ultimately couldn’t reach the three in front, it was still a promising effort in defeat as she crossed the line with plenty of running left.
Despite being well beaten on her sole try over ten furlongs on her penultimate start, the soft ground was perhaps to blame for her underwhelming performance that day and Grant Tuer’s filly is certainly worth another chance over this trip following her recent eye-catching fourth at Redcar.
General Idea (2.00 Yarmouth)
This could turn out to be quite an informative maiden contest with a host of well-bred three-year-olds represented by top connections. Clearly, there are several in here that could turn out to be fairly useful down the line but the one who stands out is GENERAL IDEA.
The son of Galileo made an encouraging debut for William Haggas when finishing third at Doncaster back in March over ten furlongs. No match for the much more experienced Groundbreaker on that occasion, the three-year-old colt still kept on well in the closing stages under hands and heels riding and certainly would have learnt plenty following his first racecourse outing.
The well-bred three-year-old should have little trouble in staying a mile and a half on Thursday afternoon, and with the yard continuing to be in red-hot form at the moment (17-41 – 41% strike rate), it would be no surprise to see General Idea add to the lengthy list of recent William Haggas winners now stepping up in trip.
General Idea can provide Newmarket trainer William Haggas with another winner.
Kiss Kiss (4:05 Yarmouth)
Despite finishing down the field in novice and maiden company at Wolverhampton in her three starts earlier this year, KISS KISS is likely to take a major step forward on Thursday as she makes her handicap debut off a mark of 60.
Trained by Rae Guest, the four-year-old filly hasn’t been devoid of promise in her three starts on the all-weather surface this term. An eye-catching fifth on her debut in January, Kiss Kiss then endured a luckless run on her following start at the West Midlands track before staying on well to finish fourth over the extended mile.
Unsuited by a change of riding tactics on her most recent start, Kiss Kiss could potentially be well treated ahead of her handicap debut and it seems fairly significant that the yard has enlisted the services of jockey James Doyle on Thursday afternoon.
James Doyle is an eye-catching jockey booking for trainer Rae Guest on Thursday afternoon.
Sip And Smile (8.35 Sandown)
SIP AND SMILE was a winning Lucky 15 selection at Doncaster twelve days ago and whilst the improving three-year-old steps back up in grade on Thursday evening, George Boughey’s charge is taken to register his fourth career victory with Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle.
Fourth on his turf debut at Doncaster over six furlongs back in April, Sip And Smile was stepped up markedly in trip on his following start at Ascot in Class 4 company. Racing over a mile for the very first time, the three-year-old travelled noticeably well under Hayley Turner before staying on strongly inside the closing stages to finish third.
Returning to Doncaster last time out over seven furlongs, Sip And Smile was given a tremendous front-running ride by jockey Ross Coakley – readily seeing off the late challenge from George Scott’s Mistrix on the run to the line. Up 3lb for that fairly comfortable Doncaster success, Sip And Smile should relish the return to a mile on the evidence of his latest winning performance and the three-year-old certainly appears to be the type to climb the handicapping ranks as the season unfolds.
Trainer George Boughey will be confident Sip And Smile can follow up at Sandown on Thursday evening.