Lucky 15 Tips: Excellent Taunton fare to enthuse over on Thursday

Another two good winners courtesy of Market Rasen's Wednesday Lucky 15 was very encouraging, and we head into Thursday in pretty decent nick.

Here's hoping the weather is not a negative factor, so let's journey to Somerset and Taunton's seven-race card that kicks in at 12:35.

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

12:35 - Miss Altea Blue @ 4/5

Novice hurdlers go a smidge over 2m in our opener, and I'm siding with the familiar and powerful P Nicholls/H Cobden axis.

Miss Altea Blue joined the Ditcheat operation from across the Channel in October of last year and has had five runs since, winning once - a novice hurdle in March, at Wincanton.

The four-year-old French-bred filly has had a seasonal reappearance run at that same venue 19 days ago, where the yard is habitually very much 'top dog,' finishing a good second of six beaten 2l - and had a wind op in July.

She's got a pretty lofty current rating of 120 which was as high as 130 at the time of her solitary victory, and looks to have an outstanding chance to me.

13:40 - Maximum Offers @ 2/1

'Gorgeous' Gavin Sheehan did the column a favour on Wednesday on a Market Rasen staying chaser, and in an era of Sean Bowen, Harry Cobden and others he belongs in the very same conversations about excellence, and big-race mentality.

He rides Maximum Offers here for regular Lambourn collaborator Jamie Snowden; a six-year-old Getaway gelding who has had one win from five outings.

Had a cobweb-blower 27 days ago at Uttoxeter, and makes his chase debut today. The yard are in good order (33% strike-rate over the last fortnight) and in this company looks to have a cracking opportunity.

15:22 - Begin The Luck @ 10/3

Tricky little handicap chase now, and a selection trained by Daisy Hitchens in Dorset.

Begin The Luck is an experienced nine-year-old gelding who has scored seven times from 54 spins. He maintains a very respectable level of form and was second beaten 8l in a slightly higher grade at Wincanton a week ago.

Claimer Robbie David (7lb) gets on well with his partner and off the same mark (96) can improve upon that record this afternoon.

15:52 - Arms Park @ 4/1

A bumper closes proceedings, and our selection is a four-year-old Walk In The Park gelding trained in Wales by Evan Williams. The outstanding Harry Cobden rides.

'Arms Park' puts me in mind of the glorious Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards, Barry John et al, whereas this equine version has had one bumper outing so far, in late September, finishing an excellent 1.25l second of five under Adam Wedge.

With the benefit of that spin, and Harry C in the plate, it's not hard at all to envisage a cracking run this afternoon.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £178 for a £7.50 total stake.

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Lucky 15 Tips from Betfred Insights.