An unusual import to watch and a happy hunting ground for Gordon Elliott - punting pointers for Thursday's meetings
Punting pointers from each of Thursday's meetings . . .
Bellewstown: big day in three-way battle for apprentice championship
Colin Keane has carved out a lead over Billy Lee in the Irish Flat jockeys’ championship, but the apprentice title race remains tight between Adam Caffrey, Wayne Hassett and James Ryan.
All three are in action at Bellewstown, with Caffrey (26 winners) leading before Wednesday’s card from Hassett (25) and Ryan (23).
Caffrey rides two recent jumps winners in the divisions of the 1m4f handicap in Grann’s Boy (4.45) and Clifftop (5.15).
Ryan will be in opposition to the title leader in the final race on Kool One and has two further rides on Celtic Druid (2.35) and Eastern Wind (3.10).
Hassett is in action twice on Miss Tapley (2.05) and Turn Up The Beat (3.45).
Chelmsford: Johnston bids to enhance track record with Neoma
Charlie Johnston is joint-leading trainer at Chelmsford this year and fields just one runner at the evening meeting.
Johnston has had ten winners at the all-weather track this year, putting him level with Newmarket-based Stuart Williams.
The Middleham trainer could edge ahead with Neoma in the mile novice (5.00). The Sea The Moon filly looks to have a live chance after finishing second in her two starts.
Chelmsford stat: hot trainer
Tom Clover has been in top form with three winners from his last six runners and his sole entry on Thursday is Biniorella Bay (5.00) at Chelmsford. She is down in class having finished third in a Group 3 last time.
Clonmel: Elliott well represented on happy hunting ground
Punters who like to follow Gordon Elliott are statistically best to do so at Clonmel, where backing his runners blind in the last five seasons over jumps would have yielded a level-stakes profit of £39.57 from 124 runners.
That is a clear best compared to the other Irish jumps tracks, with only Bellewstown and Tramore offering a positive return otherwise, and Elliott is once again a busy man on the card with seven runners.
He's Ultimate ran respectably in maiden hurdles won by useful types Caldwell Potter, Mossy Fen Park and Billericay Dickie last season and went close recently at Tramore. He is likely to be among Elliott's leading chances on the card (2.45), although the yard is well represented in the 3m½f handicap hurdle (4.55) with Bodybuilder, Dunleer Phoenix and reserve General Hubble.
Westinjet (2.15), Gino Drummer Boy (3.20) and Wudya (3.55) are the stable's other runners.
Newcastle: one to watch
David and Nicola Barron are 4-7 in three-year-old handicaps at the track this year and field Mereside Madness in the 7f handicap (7.10). The Buratino gelding was a close second on the all-weather two starts ago.
Newcastle: Gosdens bid to break 16-day drought with well-bred Byblos
Enable and Stradivarius broke their maidens at Newcastle and any runner here from the John and Thady Gosden stable is interesting.
The Newmarket powerhouse yard's sole representative on the card is Byblos in the mile maiden (5.40). The Juddmonte colt boasts an outstanding pedigree, being a half-brother to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin.
The Gosdens are enduring a hugely quiet spell by their own high standards, having gone without a winner from their last 28 runners across 16 days. However, their record at Newcastle is formidable (6-12 this season).
Salisbury: Persian Spirit follows familiar path for Hannon
Richard Hannon has had two winners, four seconds and a third in Salisbury's 6f conditions stakes (3.15) and takes aim again with debut winner Persian Spirit.
The two-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit pulled off a 20-1 surprise first time out, showing plenty of determination to hold off a more experienced favourite, and Sean Levey takes over for the ride.
Arguably the best of those from the Hannon yard to emerge from this race were not the winners but the placed horses, including Pattern-level performers Tabarrak, Witch Hunter and Eqtiraan.
Expectations will be high for Persian Spirit, who clocked a good Topspeed rating on her debut.
Southwell: Jersey racing royals take aim with Diplomatie
Diplomatie has had a marvellous summer with a hat-trick in Jersey and attempts to transfer that fine form to the mainland in the 2m handicap hurdle (4.40). The six-year-old mare has joined Harry Derham for the second stage of his season.
Having moved from Oliver Sherwood to the island's top trainer Alyson Malzard in 2023, Diplomatie made a slow start but came to life with three wins in four weeks this summer.
Victoria Malzard retains the ride and is 2-9 for Derham, while the trainer is 3-4 with handicap hurdlers at Southwell in the last five seasons.
Derham said: "Diplomatie did great for Alyson. I haven't had her long but she was in good form over there, so we've just been ticking her over. We've been looking for some quicker ground, which we get here, and hopefully she can run a nice race."
Warwick: in-form Murphy hoping for more with Roccovango
Olly Murphy is among the hottest trainers and runs three at Warwick, notably Roccovango in the 2m novice handicap chase (2.55).
The eight-year-old, who had clocked up only seven runs under rules before to joining Murphy at the turn of the year, has been a shrewd addition with three wins from four starts for the yard.
Those victories have all come under Sean Bowen, who rides again, and Murphy is optimistic there is still more to come.
The trainer said: "He returned from a break with a good win at Worcester last time and seems to be in really good form. This is a tougher race but I wouldn't swap my lad for anyone else. The yard's going along nicely. It's about two weeks until the winter horses come out and this is always an exciting time of year. We have a proper team this season."
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