Exeter runner back with Paul Nicholls and a sprinter seeking a four-timer at Southwell - Thursday's pointing pointers

Punting pointers from each of today's race meetings . . .

Ayr: impressive debut winner returns to track

Hornsea Bay delivered on some promising pieces of work at home to finish three lengths clear of odds-on favourite Bambalam when making a successful debut at Ayr last month.

The Richard Fahey-trained runner-up, who cost 600,000gns, has the chance to reverse the form with Hornsea Bay, who was bought by owners The Horse Watchers for €45,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sale in May, on 7lb better terms in Ayr’s mile novice (2.15).

Despite being the only penalised contender in the seven-runner line-up, the manner of Hornsea Bay’s victory at this track and trip three weeks ago offers encouragement that this could be a stepping stone to bigger things.

Part-owner Chris Dixon said: "We're really looking forward to running him again. He looked very good on his debut and has worked nicely since. He has the penalty to carry this time, so it's a tougher ask in that sense, but hopefully he'll run another nice race."

Hornsea Bay14:15 Ayr

View Racecard

Jky: Daniel Tudhope Tnr: David O'Meara

Chelmsford: Gifted well in for follow-up bid

Gifted Angel bids to build on his successful stable debut for Jack Jones in Chelmsford’s 1m6f handicap (5.45).

The four-year-old won three juvenile hurdles last season when trained by Tom Dascombe and was fifth behind Burdett Road in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham’s November meeting.

However, victory on the Flat proved elusive with no win from 19 starts before the move to Jones in Newmarket. The switch to the all-weather and a career-low Flat mark of 67 helped him score by three and three-quarter lengths from last-time-out winner Pysanka at Wolverhampton last week.

The son of Dark Angel is due to go up 8lb for that win, so is officially 3lb well in under a 5lb penalty for just his third all-weather start.

Gifted Angel17:45 Chelmsford (A.W)

View Racecard

Jky: Dylan Hogan Tnr: Jack Jones

Exeter: rare run in open company for Cat Tiger

Cat Tiger is a notable runner in Exeter’s feature 2m3f handicap chase (3.33) as the ten-year-old is set to make his first start outside of hunter chase company in Britain since November 2022.

Trained by Paul Nicholls, the son of Diamond Bay was second at Cheltenham and Stratford’s hunter chase meetings in May, a position he also filled in the 2022 Foxhunters’ at Aintree in 2022.

The veteran was also third in the same race at the Grand National meeting in 2021 and began last season in France with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, finishing fifth behind last year’s Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet in a Grade 2 chase at Auteuil.

Cat Tiger’s only previous visit to Exeter resulted in his first domestic success in a novice hurdle in 2019. He will be aiming to provide owner-rider David Maxwell with his first winner of the season.

Cat Tiger15:33 Exeter

View Racecard

Jky: Mr David Maxwell (3lb)Tnr: Paul Nicholls

Exeter stat: course jockey

Lorcan Williams had a 47 per cent strike-rate (8-17) at Exeter last season, with a £1 stake yielding a profit of £18.85. His sole mount at the track's first meeting this term is Dorrells Pierji (3.33) for Devon trainer Dean Summersby.

Dorrells Pierji15:33 Exeter

View Racecard

Jky: Lorcan Williams Tnr: D Summersby

Thurles stat: 100 per cent

Timothy Doyle is two from two at Thurles since the start of 2023. The trainer sends out five runners in two races including Silkies Sib and Hopkins in the 1m4½f handicap (3.40) – a race he won 12 months ago.

Thurles: Cromwell debut for prolific winner

Londonofficecallin won five of his nine starts for Eric McNamara and makes his stable debut for Gavin Cromwell off a career-high Flat mark of 70 in the 1m4½f handicap (3.40) at Thurles.

The seven-year-old bolted up by 16 lengths in a 25-runner Punchestown handicap hurdle in June last year on his second start for McNamara before going on to register four further victories.

The In Bounds Syndicate-owned dual-purpose performer progressed 31lb over jumps and 20lb on the Flat during his time with McNamara. The ownership group have enjoyed success with Cromwell with the likes of Sweet Will, who won at Cheltenham’s November meeting in 2022.

Cromwell has booked 5lb claimer Wayne Hassett, who has ridden two winners from seven rides for the trainer, to take off some of the 7lb rise Londonofficecallin incurred for his latest victory at Down Royal last week.

Londonofficecallin15:40 Thurles

View Racecard

Jky: Wayne Hassett (5lb)Tnr: Gavin Cromwell

Tramore: Townend bids for race hat-trick

Jody Townend has ridden both winners of the bumper for female riders (5.35) at Tramore and has a chance of completing a hat-trick on San Franco.

Willie Mullins provided Townend with those victories, but the champion trainer is not represented this time. Instead, Townend teams up with Dermot McLoughlin for the four-year-old's fifth start.

San Franco was third on his debut at Ballinrobe in May and the runner-up, Seo Linn, won her next start at the same track and trip by five and a half lengths.

Things have not gone to plan for San Franco in three starts since though, including when falling at the last on his hurdling debut at Roscommon in August.

Townend rides San Franco for the first time as she seeks her second winner from four rides for McLoughlin.

San Franco17:35 Tramore

View Racecard

Jky: Miss J Townend Tnr: Dermot A McLoughlin

Southwell: will Lion roar again?

Lion Ring has been rejuvenated since reverting to the all-weather, following his first win of the season at Lingfield last month with a couple of victories at Chelmsford under Ryan Kavanagh.

The 7lb claimer continues the partnership in Southwell’s 6f handicap (6.00), in which he will receive weight from all 11 of his rivals.

The Andrew Martin-trained six-year-old was beaten on his only previous visit to the track when fourth in February last year and has a 3lb rise to contend with for his latest success.

Lion Ring faces stiff opposition in fellow last-time-out winners Indivar, My Awele, Alfa Whiteburd, Liosa and Eldeyaar.