2.40pm Leicester Tips & Betting Preview 25/08/2016

Eight runners have been declared for the 7f Class 4 handicap on Thursday’s Leicester card. Read our horse-by-horse race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: After a slow start to the campaign, Harwoods Volante seems to be coming back to the boil and is respected. However, it might be worth chancing SHOW ME AGAIN, who also began the season poorly but was nibbled at in the betting before a better effort behind Corporal Maddox at Chepstow last month. The 3yo still needs to build on that performance but is well treated on some of last year AW nursery form now. Twin Point was allowed to dominate at a steady pace when scoring at Yarmouth a fortnight ago and, conversely, the other last-time-out winner, Red Paladin, was favoured by a strong gallop when ridden patiently at Doncaster.

1 Corporal Maddox – Been a good servant over the years and last month’s win at Chepstow (7f, good) was the 12^th success of his career; not in same form under penalty at Newbury last time but effectively 3lb lower here and has a decent each-way shout.

2 Twin Point – Began year with front-running AW success in January and has returned from a break with two good turf runs this summer, the more recent a win at Yarmouth (7f, good); was allowed to dictate at a steady tempo on that occasion, though.

3 Harwoods Volante – Out of form at the start of this season but took a big step back in the right direction when midfield over 6f last month and was in the thick of things for a long when fourth at Redcar (7f, good to firm) on latest outing; one to consider.

4 Aqua Ardens – Well below best when third of five in a claimer last month but seemed to respond well to refitted cheekpieces when a keeping-on fifth at Glorious Goodwood (1m1f, good to firm) on latest outing; 7f also suits and this race is easier, but he may have been flattered by his proximity at this finish.

5 Red Paladin – Suited by the strong gallop when coming from off the pace to score at favourite track Doncaster (7f, good) 12 days ago; evidently in very good heart but competes off new career-mark today and may not be seen to quite the same effect at this venue.

6 Cosmic Ray – Ended 2015 with a poor AW performance and also looked badly out of sorts on both turf starts after a layoff in May (1m/8.3f); dropped in trip after another break here and a huge leap of faith is required to support him; tongue-tie fitted.

7 Show Me Again – Did quite well in AW nurseries in late 2015 but finished well down the field on first two turf starts this season; last month’s sixth to Corporal Maddox was more encouraging, though, and it’s worth noting he was quite strong in the betting that day.

8 Darrell Rivers – Made quite pleasing seasonal reappearance when second at Windsor (6f, good) in May and will be fine over today’s trip but wasn’t in quite the same form on her next couple of outings and, after an early mishap at Yarmouth three weeks ago, her strike-rate is 0-16.

myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Twin Point, Harwoods Volante, 9/2 Red Paladin, 7/1 Aqua Ardens, 8/1 Corporal Maddox, Show Me Again, 12/1 Darrell Rivers, 20/1 Cosmic Ray