5.10pm Thirsk Tips & Betting Preview 01/09/2017

A longer wait than we ideally wanted but the day has finally arrived, myracing.com have their first runner as a racehorse owner in partnership with EPDS Racing, plus a large number of followers along for the ride with us. Our runner by runner guide and expert tip for Lady Volante’s race at Thirsk is below.

IN SUMMARY: LADY VOLANTE makes her debut in our ownership and looks to have an excellent chance of getting off the mark at the first time of asking in a weak race for the grade. Her third earlier this season reads well in the context of this race with the form of that maiden working out really well, she looks overpriced. Dreaming Time looks the biggest danger. She is from a family that the owner has enjoyed a lot of success with, she looks set to relish her first start on turf. Halinka is a twelve race maiden but she and Our Greta are others to consider in an intriguing little contest.

1 DREAMING TIME – Filly makes her debut on turf after four starts on the All-Weather. She scored in a Lingfield maiden back in February but has failed to go on from there in a pair of handicaps since. She is a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Laaheb from the same dam line as Saeed Manana’s middle distance stars Luso, Needle Gun and Warrsan. She should improve for being moved onto turf here and looks a big player in this line-up.

2 GOLDEN GUEST – Twice a winner this season over seven furlongs, he coped well with this mark last time out. He has shown the best of his form over seven furlongs so far, this trip therefore is a slight imponderable but any further drying of the ground will help his chances.

3 STUBYTUESDAY – Has landed a pair of Class 6 contests this season, not looking like he was handicapped out of things when only beaten a length and a half last time. He is hugely adaptable with regards to underfoot conditions and although this will be his first try at a mile, he shapes as if he will stay. the biggest concern has to be the form of the Mick Easterby yard who are having a very quiet time of things in August.

4 HALINKA – Twelve race maiden, she didn’t improve for the fitting of cheekpieces of late so they are now discarded. Her best form has come at this trip so it’s slightly puzzling why she would be stepped down to seven furlongs the last twice. She appreciates decent ground conditions but may require more of a stamina test if she is to break her duck.

5 DREAM TEAM – Twice a winner on artificial surfaces, the level of form he has shown on turf is an awfully long way short. He has beaten just four rivals home in three races on the grass this year, he is very tough to support currently looking a good ten pounds too high on this surface.

6 OUR GRETA – Broke her duck at this track last season, that win coming over five furlongs on good to soft ground. She wasn’t beaten far in a slightly better contest than this at Haydock in July but failed to back up the impression she made there when last seen. There are no concerns over trip or ground, if she is on one of her going days then she has an each way chance.

7 ARMANGAC – Hasn’t got his head in front in twelve career starts, he is yet to show any improvement this season for being gelded over the winter. Both times he has hit the frame have both been on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton so perhaps a trip back there would make him more of an appealing betting proposition off this mark. No better than an outside squeak in this contest.

8 SUSSEX GIRL – Showed a little ability at Goodwood in late May, but that form is two stone above her other three runs so has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Soft ground was no help to her when trying this trip for the first time at Bath last time but she was keen before fading close home over seven furlongs at Goodwood so the mile trip is a sizeable concern.

9 BUSKIN RIVER – Hinted at promise when runner-up at Windsor last September, he has looked a horse without a trip this season. He kept on at one pace over a mile before failing to stay ten furlongs last time. He ran poorly the twice he has encountered quick ground (albeit at a far higher level than this) so has more than enough to prove.

10 KILBAHA LADY – A winner just once in fifteen career starts, she has run respectably both starts she has made at this track. She was fourth over this course and distance last time, doing the best of those who tried to come from the back. She may have the same problem here with little in the way of front runners so a place may be the best she can hope for.

11 LADY VOLANTE – Eighteen race maiden, she arguably ran her best race in this country when third at Musselburgh in May. On the bare face of things, that didn’t do her handicap mark any favours, climbing from 54 there to 60 now. Four of her five opponents on that occasion have won since however, so although it was only an early season maiden, the form has worked out really well. She has been working nicely at home which is great to hear and this step up in trip is going to suit her on pedigree. It’s a weak contest for a Class 5 with a distinct lack of winning form so it would be no surprise if she was up to this task at a tasty price.