Horse Racing Tips: O’Meara to land a success on Dante Day

Flat racing holds sway across the UK and Ireland on Thursday with five meetings taking place throughout the afternoon and into the evening.  

First they go off at York for Day 2 of the Dante Meeting with afternoon action also scheduled at Perth and Salisbury, while the evening fare is set for Clonmel and Fontwell. Amongst our horse racing tips for Thursday is one for trainer David O’Meara, who will be hoping his representative can return to form at York.

14:20 York - Toca Madera @ 25/1

The second race of the day at York is the Lindum York Handicap over five furlongs and it looks to be a fiercely competitive race on paper, with a maximum field of 22 set to take to the stage.

An argument can be made for many of the runners but our selection is TOCA MADERA for David O’Meara.

The five-year-old finished third in this race last year for trainer Brian Meehan off a mark of 95. He has run creditably in some races since, but ultimately has struggled to find form, and as a result looks to be well handicapped for this as he finds himself down to a mark of 87.

He returned to the track following a 266 day lay off at Thirsk last time out when finishing down the field. However, he attracted a lot of market support that day and should come along with that run under his belt. If he is on song, he has a great opportunity of outrunning his odds.

14:33 Perth - Largy Force @ 1/1

While a case can be made for a few of these, the focus of this contest will be on the remarkably consistent LARGY FORCE.

The eight-year-old gelding has demonstrated his quality since joining the Olly Murphy stable, which should put him in a good position to take this race at Perth.

Largy Force’s record since switching to Murphy’s yard is impressive, with the horse finishing no worse than second in all five of his outings for the trainer.

His most recent run at Uttoxeter resulted in an unfortunate second-place finish, with an untidy jump at the last ultimately costing him.

The handicapper hasn’t let that run go unnoticed, opting to raise the gelding 3lb in the weights, but that still looks to be a workable mark.

16:05 York - Christmas Day @ 2/1

The feature of the day at York is the Group 2 Dante Stakes, which has often served as a catalyst for three-year-olds to lay down their credentials for the Epsom Derby in June.

A total of 11 Dante winners have gone on to achieve success in the Derby and Aidan O’Brien will be hoping for more of the same.

The Ballydoyle trainer hasn’t won this race since 2010, but he looks to hold a good hand this year with CHRISTMAS DAY.

The three-year-old arrives off the back of winning the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last time out in fashionable style. He looks to be a horse that stays well and it’s always a bonus when Ryan Moore is in the saddle.

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