Three things to note on Friday – Scott Burton casts his eye over the day's action

Thorne hoping to start on right note

Stephen Thorne saddles his first runner in Ireland when Wizard Of Odds runs in the 7f nursery (6.15) at Dundalk on Friday evening, having previously been assistant to Ado McGuinness since 2017. A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start while also spending time with Mike de Kock and Ralph Beckett, Thorne has been the driving force behind the Shamrock Thoroughbreds Syndicate, whose flagbearers have included French Group 3 winner Tiger Belle and Rush Queen.

Eleven horses from the syndicate were temporarily sent from McGuinness to Jack Davidson back in June while Thorne waited to obtain a licence, with his original aim being to start sending out runners from January 2025. 

Thorne, who saddled his first runners at Southwell on Thursday evening, also runs Midream and Sayifyouwill in the 7f fillies' handicap (7.45).

Wade Out one to keep an eye on for Ferguson

Plenty of people enjoy following the horses carrying one version or another of the silks representing Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, John Hales and Peter Done, and some may not yet have finished spending the winnings accrued on day three of the Cheltenham Festival in March. 

Sir Alex and partners are represented by an interesting newcomer over hurdles at Uttoxeter (1.35) in the shape of Wade Out, who is unbeaten in a pair of starts, one in a four-year-old maiden point at Lisronagh and the second in a Market Rasen bumper back in March.

Runner-up that day, Ace Of Spades could only finish fourth on his hurdles bow at this track last month, though scruffy leaps at three out and again at the last may have been more costly than any essential lack of an engine. 

Trainer Olly Murphy is humming along at 26 per cent winners to runners and Wade Out might be one of his novice hurdlers to keep an eye on.  

Heavy hitters the ones to focus on at Haydock

Haydock may have passed its inspection on Thursday afternoon, but the opening three two-year-old races don’t feature a host of horses with any form on soft ground, let alone heavy, so there may be a few who don’t get on the horsebox this morning. 

That said, three of the runners in the 6f nursery (2.55) have not only run on ground officially described as heavy but have won on it. 

Sir Palamedes was given a shot in the Weatherbys Super Sprint off the back of a head defeat in a York nursery and, while he failed to cut much ice there, he broke his maiden in pretty atrocious conditions next time out at Ffos Las. 

Nebrook Dream scored in heavy ground last time out at Leicester, while Herecomesthebear recorded his only win to date on a similar surface, also at Ffos Las.

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