Thursday 5th March 2026
“Welcome aboard to Thursday’s blog. We kicked off Wednesday with our NB for the day, which was Asian Journey at Southwell, who was put up at 5/2; he ran a very good race, and was only narrowly denied close to home by a well-fancied rival to finish a close-up second. It was over to Naas then for our solitary Irish selection on the day, and this was The Big Cloud in a handicap hurdle; she looked to have every chance turning for home; however, as has been the case for most of our Irish picks this week, she seemed to find little in the straight, eventually finishing an underwhelming fifth. Our third selection came back at Southwell and was the most disappointing of all. This was Kevin Ryan’s Mon Na Slieve, put up at 8/1; he was well-backed going off at around 11/2, but was off the bridle a long way from home and finished towards the rear. We signed off for the day with our NAP, which was Katie O’Reily, put up at 5/2 in the 5.07 at Southwell, she made a big race move in the back straight and turned for home several lengths clear. Unfortunately, she was run down by a well-handicapped rival in Bint Al Daar, and eventually finished second. All in all, it was disappointing not to get on the scoresheet, following a profitable Tuesday”. – Jordan.
Our first selection of the afternoon on Thursday comes from Wincanton and the 3.07, which is a Class 5 handicap hurdle over a mile and seven furlongs. This is a competitive-looking affair; however, the one that appears to stand out is the Warren Greatrex-trained FRANK STAMPER, who’s the mount of the champion jockey Sean Bowen. He’s a low-mileage four-year-old who was recruited from the flat, where he was rated 72, showing a decent level of ability. He posted his best effort to date over hurdles last time out at Plumpton, keeping on strongly to finish second of seven and just a length and a half behind the winner. He remains on the same mark for this particular assignment, which has to make him a very significant player. There is surely more to come from him, and the jockey booking is another huge plus for him.
Frank Stamper (3/1) (Win) (NB) – 3.07 Wincanton.
We’re staying at Wincanton for our second selection of the day, and this comes within the 4.15, which is a Class 4 handicap chase that’s contested over two miles and four furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of BALLYMACKIE here for Olly Murphy, who’s another one for Sean Bowen. He was pitched in the deep end when trained by Laura Morgan, contesting some hot novice chases where he was outclassed; however, since having his sights lowered since joining Murphy, he’s looked a different proposition. He was a six-length winner on his stable debut at Leicester in December, before following up with an eight-length success at Ayr last time out when upped in grade to Class 4 company. He won going away in style on that occasion, giving the impression that his seven-pound rise in the weights might not be enough to halt his progression, and I think he has a massive chance of going in again.
Ballymackie (6/4) (Win) (NAP) – 4.15 Wincanton.
It’s over to Haydock for our third pick of the day, and the 4.25, a Class 5 handicap hurdle which is ridden over two miles and five furlongs. This is another competitive contest; however, in this particular contest, Tom Lacey could hold the key with LAND OF PUNT, who’s the mount of Stan Sheppard. He’s an unexposed five-year-old who makes his handicap debut here, and he’s open to plenty of improvement. He ran his best race to date at Plumpton last time out in January, finishing third of eight in novice company, doing his best work late to get into the placings. That run gave the impression that this step up in distance is exactly what he’s after, and there’s a significant chance of considerable improvement now he’s handicapping.
Land Of Punt (3/1) (Win) – 4.25 Haydock.
Our fourth and final selection of the afternoon comes within the finale at Haydock, which is the 5.00, a National Hunt Flat Race over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. There are a few interesting types here; however, I’ve come down on LOCKER BOUM for the team of Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies. He’s the mount of five-pound claimer James Turner here, and he makes his rules debut. He was last seen winning a point in November by eighteen lengths; notably, he was up there challenging with Diamont Dore in that point before that rival fell, and he’s since come out to win a bumper at Ayr in very impressive style by seventeen lengths. He could prove to be a useful recruit for the Twiston-Davies team based on that run, and he’s worth taking a chance on here on that basis.
Locker Boum (7/2) (Win) – 5.00 Haydock.
