Thirsk Racecourse hosts its latest lat racing card on Monday afternoon with a bumper eight-race offering for punters heading through the turnstiles.
Racing gets underway at 1.55 with a seven-furlong handicap in class six and rounds off at 5.30 as 15 runners tackle the five-furlong handicap in class four.
The opener (1.55) sees eight runners head to the start for the seven-furlong handicap for horses aged four and upwards. The Mark Walford-trained Island Of Skye is worth chancing on debut for his new yard and hasn’t been seen on track since January but has the cheekpieces back on to hopefully benefit. Of his rivals, Odd Socks Havana rates the chief threat, who is a force to be reckoned with on all the all-weather surface but has also won previously on turf so very much enters equations here.
Race two on Thirsk’s card (2.25) should go the way of Fayqa for trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy, a promising second of nine in a Nottingham maiden on May 21 and well clear of the rest and the winner of that race has gone on to score again, so is the one to beat here.
A big field of 19 will head to the start for race three on the card (3.00) but while the field is large in quantity, it’s not necessarily so in quality. Of the field, preference is for Eternal Sunshine, back up to six furlongs here and a high stall draw can work in his favour. Course winner Usath is one to note on a rare turf run here with some solid form behind him on the all-weather.
A number of the 14 runners are in with a chance in race four (3.30) – a class six handicap over five furlongs. Rainbow Rain for trainer Tracy Waggot has hit the frame the last two runs so is expected to give another bold bid here while of the dangers, Cuban Rock has trended in the right direction having finished second of nine in a Hamilton handicap last time out.
Reidh is the play in race five (4.00) and can take advantage of a handy mark here from the handicapper to score in a race where he is dropping down in grade, while race six (4.30) can go the way of Liberty Breeze, a solid fourth of 12 in a Catterick handicap last time out to represent the best form on show.
The penultimate race on Thirsk’s Monday card (5.00) is a five-runner class four handicap over the one mile and six furlong distance with preference for Kitsune Power, who has acquitted himself well for trainer Tim Easterby in two runs since switching from the high-profile Roger Varian yard and has been leniently treated by the handicapper so holds the boldest of claims here.
Finally, the bumper card comes to a close with the five furlong handicap in class four with 15 runners set to tackle the trip at 5.30. Emeralds Pride extended her winning streak to four on the bounce with a win at Beverley on May 14 and is taken to make it a five-timer for trainer Michael Dods to close Thirsk’s card.
Thirsk selections – Monday (via horse racing odds)
1.55 – Island Of Skye
2.25 – Fayqa
3.00 – Eternal Sunshine
3.30 – Rainbow Rain
4.00 – Reidh
4.30 – Liberty Breeze
5.00 – Kitsune Power
5.30 – Emeralds Pride
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