Lucky 15 Tips: Stratford-bound with the big names for Thursday’s bet

There's an eight-race card at Stratford on Thursday with our name very firmly imprinted upon it. Sean Bowen will be there, cape flowing in the breeze as befits the superhero of our time, with four booked rides that look to have every chance of success.

Tipped up a couple of winners and a second yesterday for the L15 column at Newton Abbot, so a half-decent effort all round. Now then - will Sean feature in our Lucky 15 tips this afternoon I wonder? The tens-on just got swallowed up ...

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

12:47 - Dickens @ 5/6

Smashing, game and consistent seven-year-old gelding, trained by Jennie Candlish in Basford, Staffordshire.

Dickens has won seven-from-28 lifetime, and has earned a career-high mark of 116. This is a seller, and under the specific race conditions of this heat, at his age, Dickens carries 11st plus 12lb as he's won an appropriate number of hurdle races. That equates to topweight here then of 11st 12lb.

Seems there's only saintly Sean and his trainer-brother Mickey standing in the way if the market's to be believed, with the disappointing of late Mohawk Chief. Given the Bowen magic you can't rule him out under any circumstances, but I'm hoping Jennie's ex-Alan King charge can do the business for us.

13:17 - First Candidate @ 6/4

Team Skelton time, and a five-year-old mare by the mighty Jack Hobbs, who I saw run second to the even better Golden Horn in York's Dante of 2015. What a race that was, containing the subsequent Epsom, Eclipse and Arc hero 'Horn,' while Jack went on to take the Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Regally-bred then - and First Candidate has enjoyed two point-to-points thus far, falling when having every chance on debut then making no mistake when last seen in February over in Lisronagh, County Tipperary.

Her yard is one of the nation's premier outfits and she's among several promising-looking mares tackling this 2m 6f trip. One of the races of the day, and all about promise for the future.

13:47 - Brace For Landing @ 9/4

As you were - it's the Brothers Skelton again, this time with a four-year-old gelding by a 40/1 Epsom Derby winner trained by Aidan O'Brien - you don't get many of those to the pound! (Wings Of Eagles).

Brace For Landing has had two very respectable runs over hurdles in France in the spring, and joined Dan's powerful Alcester yard just a few days ago. I guess I'm taking plenty on trust in terms of fitness but this might just be a very nice type.

It's not a hot-looking contest (more famous last words) and I'm happy to take my chances on what he's shown in France previously.

14:17 - Next Twist @ 6/1

It's finally time for Sean Bowen to step up - for us, anyway - on trainer Olly Murphy's five-year-old gelding by a G1-winning miler.

Next Twist has run in two bumpers, the better of which was the latest, in January (third beaten 7l at Ffos Las); after which he was put away until now. He's entered up in a nice series qualifier at Wetherby on Saturday but hopefully takes his chance here instead.

Olly's running at a last-fortnight strike rate of 39%. For Sean, it's 26%. They're white-hot. This is a good-looking 2m novice hurdle with some notable yards involved but at the current prices this is that most rare of entities - a bit of value, arguably, about a Sean Bowen mount.

Cracking little heat with which to end our afternoon in Shakespeare country. Fingers crossed for no comedy of errors stuff, and that all's well that ends well.

I'll get my coat ...

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.50p win Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £168 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.