Grand National-winning trainer out to maintain his excellent record at Perth - punting pointers for Thursday's racing

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

Listowel: Fen worth following over fences

A dozen years have passed since Back In Focus made a winning debut over fences by 33 lengths in the 2m6f beginners' chase (5.10) at Listowel before going on to land the National Hunt Chase in the same season. 

This year the standout name in the 12-runner field is the Henry de Bromhead-trained Mossy Fen Park, an ex-pointer who was last seen finishing second in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in March.

Chasing has always looked his game and it is surely noteworthy De Bromhead has wasted little time in getting the five-year-old over fences after only three runs over hurdles. 

There are some big names in opposition, including 2023 Pertemps Final winner Good Time Jonny, while Encanto Bruno was a stylish winner of a novice hurdle at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting last season. 

Gordon Elliott runs two – Stuzzikini and Yeats Star – with stable jockey Jack Kennedy preferring the latter.

Elliott said: "They both seem in good form. Yeats Star ran well in a decent race at Bellewstown and is really consistent. He should make into a nice stayer chaser. Stuzzikini is a good, solid horse too who never seems to run a bad race." 

Newmarket: Baltic eyeing six in a row

Harry Charlton has enjoyed a good first season as licence-holder at Beckhampton Stables and looks to his winningmost horse to continue his good record on the Rowley Mile.

The trainer has saddled two winners and two seconds from six runners (33 per cent strike-rate) at the track and relies solely on Baltic, who is chasing a six-timer in the 1m4f handicap (4.30).

Having opened his account on his handicap debut last September, Baltic has risen a further 24lb after four more wins and has demonstrated his versatility with regard to track, ground and jockey.

It's hard to rule out further improvement from him and the uphill final furlong should play to his strengths.

Key stat: more juvenile joy for Appleby?

Charlie Appleby operates at a 46 per cent strike-rate (6-13) in nurseries at Newmarket. Olympus Point, who cost 260,000gns and is closely related to Blue Point, steps up in trip on his handicap debut for Appleby in the mile nursery (2.10).

Olympus Point14:10 Newmarket

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Jky: William Buick Tnr: Charlie Appleby

Perth: can McCain's Moon complete course hat-trick?

Donald McCain is always a man to follow when sending runners to Perth and his 21 winners from 62 runners (34 per cent strike-rate) would have yielded a healthy level-stakes profit of +£35.46 to £1 level stakes.

He has bettered that strike-rate this year, scoring with three of his seven runners (43 per cent) at the track, and that improves when looking at his runners in handicap chases, where he is three from five (60 per cent).

Two of those successes have come from Dripsey Moon, who will be McCain's sole runner at the Scottish venue when he lines up in the 2m4f handicap chase (1.52).

The seven-year-old is unbeaten in two starts – both over course and distance – since being fitted with cheekpieces this season and showed plenty of resolve to win going away last time.

Dripsey Moon13:52 Perth

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Jky: Brian Hughes Tnr: Donald McCain

Pontefract: in-form Camacho 

Julie Camacho has struck form in the last week, sending out four winners from her last 16 runners (25 per cent strike-rate), and has a couple of chances to extend that run at Pontefract.

Camacho has won with two of her seven runners (29 per cent strike-rate) in three-year-old-plus handicaps at the track this year, including Holbache, who lines up in the opening 5f handicap (2.00).

The trainer's Infinity Blue won well at Newmarket last month and hasn't had things go his way since, but could get back on track in the closing 6f handicap (5.23) if first-time eyeshields have the desired effect.

Southwell: all-weather specialist has more to offer

Tom Tate has yet to saddle a winner on turf this year but has done much better on the all-weather, scoring with three of his 12 runners (25 per cent strike-rate) in four-year-old-plus handicaps.

That figure could be set to improve over the coming weeks though as a switch to artificial surfaces for Have You A Minute has worked wonders.

The four-year-old put up a career-best on his first try on the all-weather when third in a 1m3f handicap at this course in December, and has since won at Wolverhampton and over this track and trip last month. 

He could have more to offer in the 1m handicap (7.00) and Tate said: "He's in good form and this race should suit him well. He's improved this season and we've gone over further, held him up and he's stayed well."

Have You A Minute19:00 Southwell (A.W)

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Jky: Tom Eaves Tnr: Tom Tate

Key stat: Gosdens out to enhance good course record

John and Thady Gosden have saddled five winners and four seconds from 12 runners (42 per cent strike-rate) at Southwell this year. Their sole runner is Sword, who could bounce back from a poor effort last time in the mile novice (6.30) with cheekpieces reapplied.

Sword18:30 Southwell (A.W)

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Jky: Robert Havlin Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

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