Thursday Racing Tips: Pentland can return to winning ways at Doncaster

There’s plenty of racing action going on across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, with five meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening.

Doncaster kicks us off before they go at Huntingdon, Lingfield and Thurles. Newcastle’s seven-race card completes the action in the evening.

Amongst our Thursday fancies is one for trainer Nicky Henderson who is close to returning to winning ways, having been a two-time Grade 1 winner in the past.

14:25 Lingfield - Aljari @ 4/1

Tom Clover’s gelding ALJARI was in the form of his life over the summer and managed to complete a hat-trick of wins back in August. A return to winning ways could be on agenda here at Lingfield.

The son of Quality Road returned after a break at Kempton last month and was only beaten by a length back in third. Looking a little outpaced over 6f that day, he kept on nicely and shaped as if the return to 7f will suit.

His most recent victory, which came at Chelmsford in August, was achieved off just a 3lb lower mark and he’s won off ratings as high as 89 and 92 in the past.

Jack Mitchell returns to take the ride and he was also on board for that most recent victory. This is certainly a competitive affair and Clover’s eight-year-old has the quality to make his presence felt here

14:40 Doncaster - Pentland Hills @ 3/1

A dual Grade 1 winner in the past, Nicky Henderson’s PENTLAND HILLS can return to winning ways at the Yorkshire course this afternoon.

The son of Motivator won the Triumph and Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile hurdles back in 2019 but hasn’t really been the same horse since. His best subsequent piece of form was his very narrow second in Haydock’s Champion Hurdle Trial the following January.

Last season was a bit of a write-off for him and he’s been missing for the best part of a year. He returned to form after a good second over course and distance last time out and there were plenty of positive signs.

Nicky Henderson’s gelding is entitled to improve for the run and his horses tend to do so anyway. If doing so, he could prove hard to beat here and Freddie Gordon’s 5lb claim will certainly come in handy.

This could prove to be a shrewd bit of placement as this 142-rated hurdler only just about squeezes into this 0-140 and the race could provide the perfect opportunity to gain a confidence-boosting win.

14:50 Huntingdon - Diamond Ri @ 7/2

This race isn’t the closed case that many will believe it is and Joe Tizzard’s DIAMOND RI is more than capable of taking this Listed event at Huntingdon.

A gelded son of Diamond Boy, he’s had just three starts to date and has emerged victorious in two of those. His debut victory in a Warwick bumper left a very good impression. Pulling clear to win by 13 lengths whilst being eased down, he overcame his greenness to win well.

Joe Tizzard’s five-year-old bumped into a smart winner on his hurdling debut at Exeter in November and the form has since been boosted by the third and fifth.

There was plenty to like about his smooth success when upped to 2m3f at Warwick next time out. He was always prominent that day and the result never looked in doubt once his jockey pushed the button at the second last.

Further improvement will be needed if he’s to topple Nicky Henderson’s runner in this race but he has plenty of scope to progress further over timber. This horse clearly possesses a good engine and appears to be a very useful prospect.

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