Thursday Racing Tips: Heros to save the day at Wetherby

There's plenty of jump racing action on offer on Thursday, with three meetings taking place across the afternoon. The day's events are concluded with one all-weather card.

After Clonmel's meeting was abandoned due to a waterlogged track, Taunton kicks us off and is swiftly followed by Wetherby and Ludlow, whilst Chelmsford's seven-race card takes us through the evening.

One of our stronger fancies on the day is one for trainer Venetia Williams, who began the season in fine form and looks capable of returning to winning ways very soon.

16:00 Wetherby - Heros @ 6/1

Venetia Williams' Heros made the perfect start to his chasing career with back-to-back wins over fences at Taunton in November and December.

Both wins came over 2m2f, and the second of those came in a 0-130, which is a marginally better class of race than this 0-125.

He made all the running that day and overcame a slight mistake at the third last. Williams' seven-year-old showed a willing attitude and kept on gamely to score by a neck.

Briefly being headed before surging on again the time before that, he was a comfortable winner by just shy of three lengths, off a mark of 106.

The son of Voiladenuo was a little flat when a well-beaten third behind the useful Tahmuras over 2m4f at Aintree next time and ran in snatches when third again at Wincanton last time out.

His mark is beginning to come down again, and the handicapper has dropped him to a rating of 116 since that latest effort. Currently rated just 4lb higher than his last winning mark, he should be very competitive once again.

16:15 Ludlow - One True King @ 3/1

It's been a while since Nigel Twiston-Davies' One True King has got his head in front, but there were positive signs last time out, and a return to winning ways could soon be on the agenda.

The nine-year-old's last chase win came at Market Rasen back in September 2022 and his current mark is 9lb lower. This gelding has to be of interest on that evidence, and he shouldn't be far away here.

One True King found only one too good over course and distance last time out, and he may have finished closer with a better round of jumping. The handicapper responded with a 1lb drop in the weights, and that can only help his chances.

It's probably fair to say that he's running out of chances, but he deserves one more off this sort of mark, and a glorious return to winning ways shouldn't be ruled out.

16:35 Wetherby - North Parade @ 6/1

Look out for North Parade at Wetherby as Sue Smith's gelding is on track to complete a four-timer, and there's every chance he can pull it off.

The son of Dylan Thomas completed his hat-trick last time out, with all three wins coming over an extended 2m4f at Newcastle. They also came on ground ranging from good to heavy, so the soft ground here won't cause him any trouble.

Perhaps the most impressive of the three victories, he scored by a very comfortable margin of three-and-a-quarter lengths that day and was well on top at the finish.

Jockey William Mags held the nine-year-old up in the early stages of the race before making smooth progress heading to the third last. He took the lead approaching the last flight, and the result never looked in doubt from that point on.

Life will be harder here off an 8lb higher mark, but that rise was probably justified. He's lightly raced for his age and is one to keep on side until his limitations are exposed.