Thursday Racing Tips: Wilful is the one to watch on handicap debut

With no Irish representation on Thursday, Britain provides all the action and there are four meetings taking place.

Newcastle kicks us off and is swiftly followed by Warwick, where the feature race is the Listed Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase, before racing from Taunton and Chelmsford. Amongst our Thursday fancies is one for Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill who won nicely in novice company last time and could well follow up on handicap debut.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

14:40 Taunton - Wilful @ 4/1

Winner of three of his four starts over hurdles, Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill’s runner WILFUL makes his handicap debut at Taunton and an opening mark of 125 looks very lenient on the evidence of what we’ve seen so far.

The son of Westerner bolted up in a heavy ground maiden hurdle at Fontwell in March and while the form probably doesn’t amount to much, he could hardly have been more impressive. He made errors at the last couple of flights and was perhaps value for more than the 28-length winning margin.

A 7lb penalty made little difference when winning at Hexham next time and he pulled clear to score by 10 lengths. It was a similar story under a double penalty on good ground at Worcester in August and clearly he goes on any surface.

Connections are unlikely to be disappointed with this opening mark and further progress shouldn’t be ruled out now tackling handicaps. It could be a while before the handicapper catches up with him and the winning streak is expected to continue.

13:55 Warwick - Springtime Promise @ 10/1

SPRINGTIME PROMISE joined Fergal O’Brien after winning a couple of Irish points comfortably and continued in the same vein under rules, completing a hat-trick of wins over hurdles.

The first of those came at the expense of Dan Skelton’s Coco Mademoiselle, who franked the form by winning a couple of starts later, and it’s worth noting that a further five subsequent winners have come out of the race.

She took the step up to Grade 2 level in her stride when taking the Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Sandown in February, comfortably getting the better of Cherie d’Am.

Maybe a little disappointing on chase and seasonal debut last time, it’s entirely possible that she needed the run and a much improved performance could be on the cards.

19:00 Chelmsford - Blue Prince @ 4/1

This thoroughly competitive £25,000 handicap is the feature race on the card and three-year-old BLUE PRINCE gets the nod from us here.

David Evans’ gelding won nicely off a 3lb lower mark at Goodwood in July and a reproduction of that form would surely give him every chance. Jordan Williams takes 5lb off and that, combined with his 1lb weight allowance, could make a substantial difference.

He stayed on well to finish fourth over 7f at Lingfield after a couple of months off when last seen and definitely shaped as if the step up to a mile here would suit. There may be more to come from him and a return to winning ways shouldn’t be ruled out here.

Horse Racing Tips, From Betfred Insights.