There are some cracking races across the UK and Ireland on Thursday with five meetings scheduled.
They race over fences at Cheltenham (1.30-5.00pm) and Clonmel (4.00-7.15), while it’s the final day of the Craven meeting at Newmarket (1.50-5.20), with Ripon (1.57-5.25), and Chelmsford (5.30-8.30) providing the supporting acts for Flat-racing fans.
Our Friday fancies include a Cheltenham heroine having her first start since the Festival.
Adrian Mills’ picks for Thursday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.
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The Group 3 Abernant Stakes plays a strong supporting role to the day’s feature race, the Craven Stakes, and it looks like an excellent renewal, with Garrus and Commanche Falls, who fought out a memorable finish to the race 12 months ago, back for more.
In truth they will do well to repeat that feat as there are some new faces to contend with this time round and our vote goes to Jane Chapple-Hyam’s MILL STREAM.
The son of Gleneagles came up through handicaps last year, twice bumping into Stuart Williams’ prolific Quinault, and got off the mark for the term when sent to Deauville for a Listed race in early August.
He took a rise in grade in his stride when defeating Garrus in a Group 3 race at the same track three weeks later and ran a fine race bumped up to the highest level the next month to finish sixth of 16 to Regional in Haydock’s Sprint Cup.
There’s surely more to come after just 10 outings and he can get what could be a big year for him off to the brightest start.
Selection: Mill Stream @ 12/1 with BetMGM
Ascot’s Crocker Bulteel maiden in July can normally be relied upon to throw up some high-quality individuals and last year’s edition was no different.
Indian Run, the winner, went on to take York’s Group 3 Acomb Stakes, second-placed Kingdom of Riches shed his maiden next time out and Peter Chapple-Hyam’s NORTH VIEW, having his first start, caught the eye in third place.
Sent to Newmarket for his next start and stepping up to 7f, he travelled smoothly but didn’t find as much as looked likely, losing out to Watcha Matey, who won here on Tuesday to frank that form,
On his final start at two the son of Expert Eye was dropped back to sprinting in a Bath maiden and he converted cramped odds easily. His opening mark looks fair and there’s surely more to come, so he’s our choice to kick off his three-year-old campaign with a bang.
Selection: North View @ 10/1 with BetMGM
There were some special scenes in the winner’s enclosure at last month’s Cheltenham Festival when Jeremy Scott’s GOLDEN ACE landed the Dawn Run Novice’s Hurdle in tidy fashion, leading narrowly approaching the last before running on well up the hill to remain unbeaten over hurdles.
That form is already working out at the highest level. Brighterdaysahead, the runner-up, waltzed off with the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at last week’s Grand National meeting, and the fourth, Jade De Grugy, stamped her authority all over the Honeysuckle Novices’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter.
The selection had already proved herself a smart sort in bumpers, running well to finish second in graded company at Aintree, but has taken it up a good few notches over hurdles and can outclass the field here.
Selection: Golden Ace @ SP with BetMGM
Find horse racing selections for every race, provided by Telegraph Sport’s champion tipster.
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