Horse Racing Tips: Hughes’ star to get off the mark at Newbury

Flat racing holds sway across the UK and Ireland on Thursday with six meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. First they go off at Yarmouth, Nottingham and Newbury, before heading into the evening at Worcester, Leopardstown and Catterick.

Amongst our Thursday fancies is one for trainer Richard Hughes who will be hoping his in form three-year-old will finally be able to get off the mark at Newbury.

Horse Racing Odds

14:55 Newbury - Lahan Kingman @ 28/1

The second race at Newbury this afternoon is a class 5 contest over the mile and looks to be a competitive affair with a case to be made for many of these contenders. However, the one who stands out is Lahan Kingman for trainer Richard Hughes.

The three-year-old filly heads to Newbury following two runner-up efforts on the all-weather this season. Although she was comfortably held on both occasions, her performances suggested that moving up to a mile could unlock improvement on the track.

Having been granted that opportunity in this one, it will be fascinating to observe how she copes with the step up in trip.

She has some good course experience to bring to the table, having run a good third on debut here in a maiden race back in August.

The form has been franked from that contest as she was three-and-a-half lengths behind Touleen that day, who now runs off a mark of 100.

Billy Loughnane takes the ride here and can continue his good run of form aboard Lahan Kingman on Thursday afternoon.

14:05 Newbury - Wild Clary @ 2/1

Richard Hannon’s charge, Wild Clary, has proven to be very consistent having failed to finish outside the top four in his last nine starts.

He arrives at Newbury in relatively good form, albeit without managing to get his head in front.

His recent performance at Carlisle was particularly encouraging; it was a positive outing where he displayed plenty of grit, however was unable to get the better of Wathnan Racing’s Realign once again.

Despite those close finishes, there is a sense that the son of Dark Angel is nearing a breakthrough. For this event, he benefits from a drop in grade, moving into a contest that appears well within his capabilities.

19:00 Leopardstown - East Hampton @ 5/1

The feature race of the day over in Ireland is the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.

The seven furlong contest is well represented by a host of top trainers who will all be in with a chance to leave their mark in this competitive affair. One horse who catches the eye is East Hampton for trainer David Marnae.

Returning from a brief spell away from the track in March, the four-year-old gelding delivered a promising performance to claim second place in the listed Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.

That form has stood up remarkably well; the winner, Big Gossey, subsequently finished second in a Group 2, while both the third and fourth-placed runners have since recorded victories.

Most notably, Ten Bob Tony, who was fourth that day, went on to strike in Group 3 at Epsom on Derby day.

With the form of the race working out well, and Marnae’s charge proving he is more than capable of performing at his best after a short break, he should possess the ability to put it up to the short-priced Native Warrior at Leopardstown.