Thursday Racing Tips: Legend can score under penalty

A bumper Thursday awaits on the racing front with no fewer than seven meetings taking place in Britain and Ireland on Thursday.

The May Festival continues at Chester and our Thursday racing tips features three selections on the Roodee.

13:30 Chester - Radio Goo Goo @ 8/1

RADIO GOO GOO was flying at this point last year, gaining a success in the opening race of this meeting in the midst of winning five of her first six starts of last season’s campaign.

It’s probably fair to say that the handicapper caught up with her by the summer, but after an all-weather campaign this spring, she’s dropped down to 3lb below her last winning mark.

The Havana Grey filly is two from two at this venue and while she’s yet to win over five furlongs, she’s gone close and certainly has the speed for the trip.

The switch back to turf is in his favour and David Evans’ yard are hitting some form with winners at Bath and Doncaster in the last week.

15:05 Chester - Bracken's Laugh @ 3/1

The Dee Stakes has thrown up some nice horses down the years and this year’s contest could be an above average renewal.

Trainer Richard Hughes’ yard could hardly have made a better start to the 2024 season. The Lambourn trainer has been banging in the winners since the start of the turf campaign and BRACKEN'S LAUGH has been among one of the potential Pattern performers for the yard.

The colt looked like a very smart prospect when winning at Newbury on his debut last year before running a creditable race in defeat in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October.

The son of Zoffany proved he had trained on when bolting up at Chelmsford on his return to action last month, getting the better of the re-opposing Capulet, and while that rival is respected given his trainer’s remarkable record in this contest, he has a bit to do to reverse the form with Hughes’ runner.

16:45 Chester - Arch Legend @ 7/4

The finale can go the way of ARCH LEGEND for Charlie Johnston. This Camelot colt is improving with every run and made a striking impression when bolting up at Wolverhampton last week.

He now bids for a hat-trick having won at Windsor on this season’s return to action and he’s officially 4lb well in for last week’s Wolverhampton success, despite having to carry a 6lb penalty for that win.

He can continue on an upward curve for a yard that does well at this meeting and he could have no better man on board than the course specialist, Franny Norton, who shouldn’t find stall seven an issue.