Horse Racing Tips: Miss can strike Gold at Fontwell

Jumps racing holds sway across the UK and Ireland on Thursday afternoon, with three meetings taking place at Fontwell, Wincanton and Thurles before an all-weather affair at Newcastle in the evening.

Among my horse racing tips for Thursday is an improving Harry Fry mare who is fancied to end a spell of seconditis.

14:40 Fontwell - Broughshane @ 15/8

Course form is always paramount at this quirky venue, and the O’Neills’ BROUGHSHANE can bounce back from a disappointing run last time and make a successful rules chasing debut.

He looked to be going places when winning over hurdles here on his handicap debut in October, leading most of the way before putting the race to bed cosily.

The runner-up, Golden Ambition was the only one to make any kind of race of it that day, and he went on to win his next two starts and is rated 19lb higher now.

That win, over 2m 3f, was a great start for a former 3m point-to-point winner, and he showed it to be no flash in the pan by finishing second on his next start before another hurdle win on good ground at Southwell.

The second that day also won his next two and this £150,000 purchase can immediately make his presence felt now switched to the larger obstacles.

15:10 Fontwell - Miss Goldfire @ 5/2

This mares’ hurdle looks to be at the mercy of Harry Fry’s progressive mare MISS GOLDFIRE, who was unlucky to run into a well-handicapped rival on her step up to 3m1f last time.

The winner that day, Cluain Aodha, was well handicapped after a few below-par chase runs, and nearly won again off 4lb higher last Sunday, while the third home won easily next time.

The selection did nothing wrong on her first run over an extended trip, indeed she stayed on well having been a little outpaced, and Fontwell’s stiff finish would appear likely to suit.

She didn’t run well on her one start here last May, but that was over two miles and was her hurdling debut. Trainer Harry Fry has a 27% record with hurdlers at this course in the past five years so must be confident she will perform well at the venue.

16:50 Wincanton - Jolie Baie @ 9/2

This is a competitive Class 4 at first glance, but it should lie between three in-form mares and JOLIE BAIE, a comfortable winner last time, can come out on top again.

Jo Davis’ progressive mare had had a couple of blips on good ground in July and October last year, but put those behind her and continued her upward curve, when following a second place at Huntingdon with a win at Lingfield.

That came on soft ground, and there should still be enough juice left at Wincanton where the going was heavy just a week ago, although it’s reassuring that the selection has won on good ground albeit at a lower level.

The winner of three of her ten starts over hurdles, she has improved for the step up to around three miles and Gavin Sheehan can improve his record on the mare to three wins from four rides.

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