4.45pm Thirsk Tips & Betting Preview 21/08/2017

A field of nine go to post in this Class 6 handicap raced over a 1m 4f. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: SEPAL can take advantage of some shrewd placement by her trainer and complete a quickfire double. She hacked up last week by six lengths and a useful claimer negates all bar 1lb of her penalty and she can take full advantage here before being reassessed. In Focus could give her the most to think about having shown signs of life when stepped right up in trip last time out.

1 SEPAL – Absolutely hacked up off a mark of 62 at Ayr a week ago, stretching out to win by six lengths over 1m 2f on Good to Soft ground. Conditions shouldn’t be too much quicker today and the step up in trip should suit her down to the ground. 5lbs of her 6lb penalty will be negated by her rider’s claim and she has an excellent opportunity to complete the double today. Respected.

2 LUV U WHATEVER – Makes his fourth start for the Marjorie Fife yard today and he’s been dropped 2lbs following a fair effort over 1m 3f at Carlisle last time out. A mark of 66 should definitely be within his ability, although he is without a win from 12 starts on turf which is an obvious concern. He is weighted to go well – even on this surface – and deserves respect dropped into Class 6 company.

3 ARITHMETIC – Yet to win for Ruth Carr and he remains a maiden from 18 starts which is incredibly off-putting. He’s 3lbs lower than a good second place finish over 1m 2f at Leicester back in June so he’s not terribly handicapped. That said, he’s evidently not straightforward and others make slightly more appeal today at the weights.

4 CORREGGIO – Without a win since 2015, however he’s gone close on his last two starts, including over C&D. He’s ground versatile but he’s up 2lbs for his latest effort and the winner has let the form down since. He remains fairly treated and should go well, but he’s hard to win with now and he always outperforms at Pontefract which suggests that his last start may have been misleading.

5 STECCANDO – Sally Haynes’s runner has been in mixed form lately, but it’s encouraging that his best effort came over C&D. He remains without a win from 12 starts, however he’s down to a new career low mark and he should be able to hit the frame at some point soon. The booking of Ben Curtis is positive and he should go well today from stall 4. Respected now racing on Good ground.

6 CLENYMISTRA – Won a decent Class 6 handicap last time out over C&D on this ground. She races with a 6lb penalty today which probably won’t leave her chucked in but she should go well again having proven herself recently to be in outstanding form. Daniel Tudhope takes over in the saddle and she should make a bold bid today, although others make a bit more appeal.

7 IN FOCUS – Produced an encouraging effort at Musselburgh last time out when finishing second of eight, beaten 3/4 of a length off a 3lb lower mark. Paul Mulrennan takes over in the saddle today – an obvious positive – and the hood is retained which should help control him over this longer trip. 1m 4f should certainly suit based on his latest effort and the slightly quicker ground should help.

8 DECIMA – Mick Easterby’s Dream Ahead filly is bred to be useful and she has a handy three-year-old allowance in this. She arrives here on the back of a good effort over 1m 2f last time out and, whilst on breeding this trip looks far enough, her last run suggests that it should suit. A mark of 61 looks fair and she should go well, although the yard has a poor 4% strike rate at present with just one winner from their last 27 runners.

9 IVORS INVOLVEMENT – Has won just twice in 30 starts, the last of which came back in 2015. That did come off a mark of 68, but he’s not well handicapped at all off a mark of 45 having been well held off similar ratings lately. The step up in trip to 1m 4f is an interesting move, but he looks up against it here.