Thursday 17th April 2025
1.35 Cheltenham: KTDA Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: My first selection of the day on Thursday comes within the 1.35 at Cheltenham and this is a Premier Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong. I’m strong on the chances of Sainte Lucie here for Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins. She carries top weight here as she’s clear on official ratings, and I think this is a fairly weak race for the grade. She bolted up on her first start for this yard at Punchestown in December, before being too keen in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival. Most recently, she finished eighth in the Triumph at the Festival in March, where she wasn’t disgraced. I’d be disappointed if she couldn’t go very close against this level of opposition. Sainte Lucie – 15/8 (Win)
3.10 Ripon: Ripon Silver Bowl Handicap: I head over to Ripon for my second selection, and this comes within the 3.10, which is a Class 4 handicap that’s contested over six furlongs. I think this can go to Green Pursuit for the Adrian Keatley and Connor Beasley team. He made an impressive return to the track on his seasonal reappearance at Catterick last week when winning over today’s distance by two and a half length and he could well have more improvement yet to come, as that was only his second start within handicap company, I think he can go well again here under the penalty. Green Pursuit – Evs (Win)
4.15 Ripon: Ripon “Cock O’ The North” Handicap: My third and final selection also comes from Ripon and this is another Class 4 handicap and this time over a mile and two furlongs. I like Lord Protector here for Ruth Carr and James Sullivan. He made a very encouraging effort on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle last month when he finished second of eleven, and he was a length and a quarter behind the winner. He remains on the same mark as that outing here, which is ten pounds below his last winning one. If he turns up in the same form, he could be bang there once again. Lord Protector – 15/2 (Each-Way)
