Thursday Racing Tips: Snipe to take aim at Warwick

A mixture of jumps and flat racing across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, with five meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. First off is Wolverhampton before they go at Warwick, Southwell, Clonmel and finally Chelmsford.

Amongst our Thursday fancies is one for trainer Dan Skelton, who has been running in some top staying handicap this season.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

16.32 Warwick - Snipe @ 11/4

Dan Skelton’s SNIPE looks to have found a good opportunity to get his first win since 26th December 2023 at Aintree.

Before his slightly disappointing effort at Ascot over 3m, he has been a model of consistency, finishing in the frame on three of his last four starts.

He was a terrific second to Val Dancer at Carlisle in November, who went on to win the Welsh Grand National on his next start, and ran another great race in defeat at Doncaster in a Premier Handicap at Doncaster, finishing third.

The Changing Man was second that day and has since won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase and finished second in the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.

A disappointing run last time out behind Victtorino sees him drop a pound to 127, but a repeat of his strong handicap runs previously will see him go very close.

15.35 Southwell - Service Minimum @ 9/4

Another Dan Skelton runner is of interest, this time at Southwell, where his five-year-old mare SERVICE MINIMUM looks to have a strong chance of getting off the mark at the third time of asking.

The form of her debut run at Uttoexeter looks rock-solid, beaten only five lengths behind Dream Shadow, who has since been placed in two Listed Mares NH flat races. The second Strong Run has since been placed in a Listed Mares NH flat race at Cheltenham and won a class 2 NH flat race.

She then bumped into another good mare at Ludlow who has gone on to win a class 2 mares NH Flat race at Ascot on her next start by three lengths.

Her form is the best on offer and, with more improvement to come, she looks ready to head into the winner’s enclosure.

16.55 Chelmsford - I Maximus @ 8/11

We head to the first race of the evening meeting at Chelmsford for the last tip of the day, where I MAXIMUS can give Rob Hornby and Richard Hughes a winner.

He was well supported and sent off favourite on his debut at Newbury back in July, where he was a big eye-catcher, losing ground when rearing at the start. There was a lot to like about the way he travelled after that and stayed on strongly to the line.

I Maximus made his AW debut on his second career start, where he went off odds-on but couldn't reel back the front-running Dash Dizzy. That form was boosted when the winner finished third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Although disappointing on his latest start at Newbury back on turf, that can easily be forgiven as the ground was deteriorating that day.

He has been gelded since and a repeat of his first two runs should see him break his duck at the fourth attempt.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.