Thursday Lucky 15 Tips: Sheer nectar for raider Ryan

Hello again, dear reader - great to be back in the saddle, fresh from tipping up a 50/1 shot to place (plus one other) in  Saturday's thrilling Grand National courtesy of our fabulous seven places e/w offer that kicked in a couple of days before the contest. Cheltenham and Clonmel provide Thursday's jumping action (April 18), while there's flat racing from Newmarket, Ripon and Chelmsford.

It's proof positive that the flat has started in earnest when you see races like the Wood Ditton and Craven Stakes loom into view, and it's to take those in and others that we visit flat racing HQ, Newmarket, for our Thursday Lucky 15 tips.

13:50 Newmarket - Irish Nectar @ 10/1

I'm recommending an each-way Lucky 15 play for Thursday - white-hot competition, and races that cry out for that little bit of welcome insurance. It's a cracking card, and as I said earlier, a real marker in the season's embryonic stage. It's Newmarket's fabled Craven meeting, signposting as it does the prospects of Guineas' hopefuls and beyond, as the 2024 campaign ramps up and begins to unfold.

Irish Nectar is a promising Invincible Spirit gelding in the care of Kevin Ryan, making his seasonal bow as a three-year-old. The vastly-experienced Jamie Spencer rides, a former champion jockey in both his native Ireland, and the UK.

The horse ran on six occasions at two, winning the last brace with progressive, career-best highs at first Nottingham, and then York. He only tried this 6f once, at Hamilton, and though running well didn't arguably quite see out the distance.

On his last successful run he took a 5f heat on the Knavesmire on soft ground 'going away,' advertising his development throughout the season and the likelihood that 6f would be well within compass - especially on decent ground, which he's likely to get here.

That was a Class 3 and he's up a notch on Thursday, but his sire won Group races at the trip, including the tip-top Haydock Sprint Cup. I rate the trainer hugely and imagine the 'head waiter' of his generation, Spencer, will hold him up and pounce from the bushes to challenge late, up the hill.

We're paying five places - love to think there's a tremendous chance of him at least filling one of them.

15:00 Newmarket - Spycatcher @ 8/1

Four places e/w here for the Abernant, and a selection in Spycatcher that's one of two entries for the all-conquering Karl Burke yard. An experienced six-year-old who should be entirely at home here in this Group 3 - indeed, the last time he contested at this level he won the Prix de Ris-Orangis at Deauville.

He's a course-and-distance scorer, and is the fourth highest-rated entrant. A horse that habitually goes well fresh, he makes a fantastic habit of winning on seasonal reappearance. Can race prominently or come from behind, and looks to have a terrific chance in my book.

It's an outstanding renewal, and a really strong early-season Group 3.

15:35 Newmarket - Alcantor @ 11/4

The selection is trained at Chantilly by the great Andre Fabre - he of Peintre Celebre, Hurricane Run and Zafonic fame, alongside a list as long as your arm that includes similar household names on both sides of the Channel.

Alcantor is a three-year-old New Bay colt who won three times from five starts at two. He bids to take this Craven Stakes, for so long a 2000 Guineas indicator, as the joint top-rated combatant.

He just gave best in the Criterium International when last seen at Saint Cloud in October (Group 1), while the previous month over the same course-and-distance he easily took a Group 3.

He has a huge edge in experience over likely favourite Native Approach, who has yet to race on turf after two promising Polytrack outings at Kempton.

Great to see an international raider at HQ, and he'll make them all go a bit. Few runners, but sky-high interest.

17:20 Newmarket - Pearle D'or @ 5/1

A quality 7f Class 2 handicap worth a pleasant £25k to the winner. Another with JP Spencer doing the steering, too. Could be a red-letter day for him on the Rowley Mile.

Pearle D'or is a five-year-old Starspangledbanner gelding trained by North Yorkshire maestro David O'Meara. Was last seen in an extremely valuable Ascot heritage handicap at the back-end, finishing third of 17 in a career-best.

Jim Crowley was on top that day, but despite him being present the patient Spencer has been booked; and as the horse is real hold-up merchant I can totally see the rationale behind it.

Expect to see this one in some of the season's hottest handicap contests at the trip (the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting, for example), and can be highly competitive on Thursday afternoon. Could even, dare one say it, be improving. Another stellar contest.

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 £0.25p each-way Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £820 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.