Thursday 3rd July 2025
Thursday’s Best Bets
4.02: Yarmouth
HIGH APPROVAL – 10/11 (Win) (NAP)
My first selection of the afternoon on Thursday comes within the 4.02 at Yarmouth, and this is a Class 4 maiden over six furlongs. This looks like a very enticing opportunity for High Approval for the team Hamad Al Jehani and James Doyle. He was sent off the even money favourite on debut at Nottingham, and whilst he wasn’t able to open his account at the first time of asking, he ran an encouraging race when finishing third of thirteen behind Reciprocated. That rival has won a Class 2 event since, giving the form a strong feel, and the Al Jehani charge should naturally progress coming into his second start here. He should take a lot of beating.
4.10: Haydock
LA CADALORA – 15/8 (Win) (NB)
It’s quickly over to Haydock for my second selection, and the 4.10, which is a Class 5 fillies’ handicap over a mile and three and a half furlongs. James Fanshawe’s La Cadalora makes a lot of appeal for me here, who is set to be ridden by William Buick. She’s shown significant improvement since going handicapping this term, with a couple of solid efforts at Newbury and Doncaster, finishing third in both and not too far behind the winner either time, most recently just three-quarters of a length behind Curran at Doncaster last month. She’ll contest this particular affair off the same mark as both of those efforts, and her time is surely forthcoming.
5.05: Yarmouth
RAVENSBOURNE – 7/1 (Each-Way) (5 places)
This is a competitive low-grade Class 6 affair, over seven furlongs; however, it could pay to side with the Michael Keady trained Ravensbourne, who’s currently trading at a best price of 7/1 under Mason Paetel, who takes off seven pounds. She’s only got the one win to her name, which came on the all-weather; however, she ran well on the turf at Lingfield last month when finishing third of twelve, albeit four and three-quarters of a length behind the winner. Most notably here though, she’s a pound below his last winning mark, with a further seven coming off his back via his rider, which I think makes her look on a very tempting mark. If she’s ever going to open his account on the turf, it should be off a mark like this.
5.17: Haydock
THE CHILDE OF HALE – 11/2 (Each-Way)
My fourth and final selection comes back at Haydock and in a Class 5 handicap at 5.17, which is ridden over seven furlongs. I like The Childe Of Hale here for Ivan Furtado and Tom Eaves. He’s still a maiden after five outings; however, he’s run with credit in each of his last four starts, most notably since going handicapping this term. He’s finished fourth at both Doncaster and over course and distance last time out and his run here last time was a very encouraging one, as he was still showing signs of greenness and he didn’t get a clear run, he also lost a shoe, yet was still only a length and three-quarters behind the winner. If he gets a bit more luck on this occasion, he’s a serious player off a pound lower mark.
