4.00pm Thirsk Tips & Betting Preview 15/08/2017

A field of 11 go to post for the fifth race of the day at Thirsk on Tuesday. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Gaelic Wizard excels over this course and distance so he won’t be far away, but this can go to EXCELLENT WORLD. Tony Coyle’s four-year-old showed plenty of promise in three maidens and, although she’s mainly struggled since in handicaps, she’s now dropped to a very attractive mark. She posted her best effort in a long while when a fast finishing fourth at Southwell in May and this step up in trip will suit after a break. Barry McHugh retains the ride and she can gain her first victory at the ninth attempt.

1 ETIENNE GERARD – Hasn’t been at his best this season for Nigel Tinkler, with his penultimate second at Redcar being his only real effort of note in 2017. He failed to build on that second when only fifth and well beaten at Newcastle five days ago and he continues to have a point to prove. Lewis Edmunds retains the ride and takes three pounds off his back – he’s now seven pounds below his last winning mark – but it’s hard to give him anything more than place claims.

2 ROSE ECLAIR – Inconsistent four-year-old filly who produced her best effort this season when second at Redcar, but she was never involved at Catterick seven days ago with no real excuses. She is now nine pounds below her last winning mark, however she remains risky to back as she cannot hold her form. David Allan takes the ride today which is positive, but others are readily preferred on balance.

3 FIRESNAKE – Struggled on the turf on his penultimate start at Catterick before taking his second career victory at Chelmsford, keeping on strongly from the rear. He is a better horse on the All Weather and he remains a maiden on the turf, so he wouldn’t be an obvious candidate to follow up now he returns to this surface. Callum Rodriguez retains the ride but he’s likely to miss out here.

4 GAELIC WIZARD – Course and distance winner who thrives here, taking his second victory over this course and distance when storming through to comfortably beat Rose Eclair 13 days ago. A four pound rise is far from excessive and Gemma Tutty retains the ride, taking a very useful five pounds off his back. Conditions will suit and he has to be respected, though he is yet to follow up after a victory.

5 LE MANEGE ENCHANTE – Has only scored twice in 26 starts for Derek Shaw and he’s struggled overall since his latest victory at Nottingham back in July 2016. He was always in the rear when seventh over course and distance 11 days ago and connections reach for the visor as a result. Conditions will be fine, but he is hard to recommend on balance and others are preferred.

6 EXCELLENT WORLD – Four-year-old filly for Tony Coyle who has generally struggled since three promising runs in maiden company, but she has now fallen to an extremely low mark and looks fairly treated on the best of her form. She showed better on her latest start at Southwell where she was a close fourth, flying home with purpose under today’s rider Barry McHugh. The step up in trip will suit him massively and, now that he’s been given a break, he can take his first race victory.

7 REFLATION – Dual six furlong winner at Hamilton in the autumn but he’s found life difficult since switching to the Patrick Holmes yard, well beaten on all his runs and struggling to beat rivals. He showed something more when seventh at Carlisle, but the merit of that form has to be questioned as it was in a very weak Pro-Am Lady Riders’ Race. Paula Muir takes the ride and seven pounds off his back, but others are readily preferred.

8 BINGO GEORGE – Showed some useful form in the context of this race when with the Andrew Balding yard, but he’s been well beaten on three starts for Mark Rimell. He did show a little better when sixth over course and distance last time, but he was well behind Gaelic Wizard and a turnaround in fortunes would be a surprise. Graham Lee takes the ride and he can only be given each way claims.

9 MIGHTY BOND – 15 race maiden who ran one of his better races when finishing fourth in a handicap at Redcar 13 days ago, well positioned throughout. The handicapper has dropped him a further two pounds which gives him some possibilities, but it’s hard to see him winning this with his overall record. Possible each way claims under Royston Ffrench, but he would be a surprise winner.

10 GEORGE BAILEY – One win from 32 starts for this son of Zebedee who has failed to catch the eye in most of his runs since then. He was last seen at Beverley where he weakened tamely when asked for an effort and it’s hard to see him playing a role here, even though the handicapper has relented three pounds. Up against it here.

11 NEFETARI – Ran some okay races at a very modest level on the All Weather over the winter for Alan Brown, but it hasn’t been easy for him on the turf this summer. He was all but tailed off in a similar race to this last month and he was once again swept aside at Newcastle 17 days ago. The handicapper has given him a big chance by dropping him six pounds, but he doesn’t look like one who will capitalise.