Lucky 15 Tips: Queen Hayley’s worth waiting for

Greetings, dear reader. Thursday's racing fare includes some cracking action, but I'm going to a NINE-race card for my Lucky 15 tips for September 26.

Southwell, and a late afternoon/evening gathering on the Tapeta, is the meeting - and there are plenty of brilliant jockeys in attendance (Jim Crowley, Silvestre De Sousa and Hayley Turner among them). First race is at 16:25, and as I'm mixing some fancied types with what I hope is value, I'm going for an each-way play myself.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

16:25 - Miakoda @ 7/2

A big field gathers for a two-year-old nursery.

Our selection Miakoda represents the powerful Richard Hannon yard, and the Blue Point colt is one of the more experienced members of the party with five career spins to date.

He's showing steady improvement via his Racing Post Rating figures, and was only beaten half-a-length in a similar heat over this minimum trip at Wolves just five days ago.

He was tardily away on that occasion but finished with purpose. Southwell is a tougher ask in my book and the 'finishing well' element, if repeated here, could be telling.

One more point - he gets the excellent 3lb claimer Alec Voikhansky in the saddle, who is attached to the Hannon stable. He's had a dozen winners this year so far but none of them on two-year-olds. Time for that to change ...

17:00 - Polar Princess @ 12/1

Another first-class claimer, Conor Planas, is engaged here for North Yorkshire trainer Philip Kirby.

Polar Princess is a four-year-old Ulysses filly who was third here at a furlong shorter 27 days ago. A bit one-paced at the business end, she returns stepped up a furlong, and off the same mark of 60.

The extra yardage can help, but surely she's becoming well-handicapped now (was competing off 68 in May), and can go close at the very least.

17:30 - Prophet's Path @ 4/5

Top jock Jim Crowley rides for Lambourn handler Owen Burrows.

Prophet's Path has been threatening to win in middle-distance novice and maiden company, showing consistent form, slightly progressive even; but continually finding one or two too good.

A three-year-old gelding by Derby hero Masar, his turn looks to be close at hand and he sets for me a decent standard. Jim rides for the first time and that could well just squeeze out what's required to prevail.

20:30 - Lady Birdie @ 6/1

A three-year-old Gleneagles filly who's getting all the allowances at the foot of the weights, carrying a mere 8st 3lb.

As if that wasn't a tempter, add trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Hayley Turner to the mix - the Queen of Southwell, Ascot too for that matter, especially on Shergar Cup day.

Lady Birdie is still a maiden after nine starts, and a very modest performer - but this is a very modest race. She steps up to 1m 6f from middle-distances and it's to be hoped that the new trip, her featherweight, plus having the admirable Miss Turner on top can work the proverbial oracle.

If you're playing take care, have fun as always, and good luck.

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 £490 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.