Thursday Racing Tips: Smokey Malone goes for a hat-trick

Jumps racing holds sway across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, with five meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening.

First off is Clonmel, before they go at Ludlow, Taunton and Wetherby, before a twilight all-weather card from Chelmsford brings down the curtain. Amongst our Thursday fancies is one for the trainer partnership of Julia and Shelley Birkett, who have a runner bidding for a hat trick of wins.

12.49 Clonmel - Speculateur @ 4/1

Look out for SPECULATEUR at Clonmel as the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding looks set to open his account on the fourth time of asking. 

This son of No Risk At All has been unlucky in his two starts over hurdles, twice bumping into unexposed Willie Mullins' horses, who both look set to have a big future.

In his last start at Punchestown, he finished third roughly three lengths behind Too Bossy For Us. There was a lot to like with that performance, as despite being headed inside the final two furlongs, he stayed on powerfully.

That performance suggests that this longer trip of roughly an extra three furlongs should bring out the best in him.

Both his trainer and his partner in the saddle, Jack Kennedy, are in excellent form this season and he should be able to get off the mark here.

13:32 Ludlow - Tales Of Bravery @ 1/4

Dan Skelton's gelding TALES OF BRAVERY impressed last month and she looks set to thrive again.

This daughter of Affinisea made all at Uttoxeter and ran out an emphatic winner, scoring comfortably by nine and a half lengths.

And that form has substance as the third finisher has finished second since, while the fourth home won her next start.

Another positive here is that she is reunited with Harry Skelton, who is in the saddle for the first time since her debut and he has been excellent this season.

She should be able to get a comfortable lead again here and prove too tough to peg back here.

18:30 Chelmsford - Smokey Malone @ 5/2

A former course and distance winner, Julia and Shelley Birkett's gelding SMOKEY MALONE can thrive back at the Essex course.

Disaster struck this son of Outstrip two starts ago, when he stumbled and unseated his rider, Dylan Hogan. However, Hogan partnered him to win his next two starts at Southwell.

The form of his last success appears quite strong as he bested the John Berry-trained Duchess, who arrived there in good form, winning and finishing second in her two previous starts. That pair were roughly five lengths clear of the field.

Smokey Malone is still seemingly well treated by the handicapper, as he is still 5lb below his highest-ever winning mark and everything suggests he should make a bold bid here to land the hat-trick.

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