Four meetings make up the racing quota across Britain and Ireland on Thursday, with jumps racing holding sway as they go off at Lingfield, Thurles, Taunton and Kelso on a day with 27 races scheduled.
Guguss Collonges made a pleasing start to his time with Roger Teal when second on comeback last month and could well go one better at Lingfield today.
Selections
- Lingfield 13.30 – Guguss Collonges @ 10/3
- Taunton 13.45 – I Spy A Diva @ 7/2
- Kelso 14.58 – Tfou @ 13/8
Tip 1
GUGUSS COLLONGES (10/3) is fancied to show up well for Roger Teal and Daryl Jacob in this Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (13.30) at Lingfield Park.
The gelding was a winner last December at Plumpton over fences at this sort of trip and acquitted himself well in three further starts as his rating continued to rise.
He moved on from Gary Moore’s yard in the off season and last month’s comeback second at Stratford (2m2½f, good) was a first outing for Teal after a summer switch.
He shaped well near the head of affairs in that contest, though the winner Fazayte had his number once they jumped the final flight.
The winner was only narrowly denied next time at Hereford from 5lb higher, while two next-time-out winners have emerged from the Stratford contest.
Having gone up the minimum for that pleasing comeback, this Betfred Extra Place Race presents a fine opportunity for Guguss Collonges to build on that effort.
Tip 2
An intriguing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (13.45) at Taunton as impressive last-time-out winners Jet Of Magic and I SPY A DIVA (7/2) lock horns.
The former, now trained by Paul Nicholls, made a winning seasonal bow at Hereford over 2m5½f this month and was in complete control.
He has however failed on a couple of starts at this sort of trip, whereas the mare I Spy A Diva has gone close at Stratford over 3m1½f last season.
She had a wind operation during the summer and is 2-2 since returning to action, coasting to successes at Ludlow (2m5f, good to firm) and here (2m3f, good).
The forecast good ground is another plus for her now and she might draw the sting from Jet Of Magic by pouring it on from the front.
Tip 3
Nicky Richards has his string in good order at the moment and TFOU (13/8) is fancied to build on his success at Ayr (2m4½f, good to soft) last time out when he goes in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over just shy of three-miles here.
The Authorized gelding had just two runs over hurdles last season and immediately bettered those when prevailing in a battle with Gandhi Maker in last month’s fencing bow at Ayr.
He was outpaced by the eventual second at one stage, but rallied strongly to get on top after the jumping was completed.
The manner in which he finished the race off suggests this extra distance is a plus and this unexposed performer has clear scope to improve on only his fifth racecourse start.
