All-Weather Thursday Three-For-All 156/1 Treble

A relatively quiet afternoon this Thursday after yet another bumper day of racing on New Year’s Day. The action on Saturday more than makes up for that however, with six meetings featuring the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle and the Veterans’ Series Final at Sandown.

To kick start what is hopefully a profitable 2020 for you all, here are three runners from the All-Weather who caught the eye, available as a 156/1 treble at time of writing. We’ll have tips and analysis for the action from Chelmsford, Lingfield as well as Ayr.

Top Jockey

Joe Fanning enjoyed a productive year at Lingfield in 2019 with fourteen winners from fifty rides. He returned an impressive £40.57 profit to a £1 level stake, including success on Matterhorn on All-Weather Championship Day.

He heads to the Polytrack venue for four rides on Thursday, the pick of which is Para Mio. Trainer by Seamus Durack, the gelding returned from a 226 day break with a hugely encouraging effort over seven furlongs here a month ago.

Sent off 20/1, he was slowly into stride and had to race wide. Despite that, he stayed on takingly to finish a close fourth. Given that effort and his sole success coming over twelve furlongs, he’ll greatly appreciate the extra mileage today. Under Fanning’s expert guidance, a big run has to be anticipated.

Top Trainer

Dual purpose trainer Ian Williams has sent 122 runners to Chelmsford over the past five years. An impressive twenty-five of these returned back to Worcestershire with the spoils and another twenty-three hit the frame.

At an each-way price, his new recruit Kick On Kick On is of huge interest. Three-times a winner on turf for Clive Cox, he was gelded ahead of his stable debut at Wolverhampton in November.

On what was just his second All-Weather start, he was beaten just two lengths into fifth behind the progressive Rocket Action. Kindly dropped two pounds for that effort, he’s now three pounds below his last winning mark. Now race fit, he has a great chance of scoring.

Course Specialist

Lion Hearted is exactly the sort of horse with which Michael Appleby thrives. Purchased for 15,000gns in May, rated just 45 on his switch to the UK, he has won seven of his nine stable starts. He ended his campaign held in tenth at Lingfield in April, but that was in a Class Two contest when only beaten four-lengths by some very useful handicappers.

The reformed performer enjoyed particular success at Chelmsford, winning all three of his starts here. He won by six lengths a year ago before further wins off marks of 78 and 83 in the spring. He’s rated just 85 on his reappearance today and the talented Mark Crehan continues to claim a chunk of weight.

With the Appleby yard saddling seven winners over the past fortnight, it’s fair to suggest that their gelding will be in peak condition as he makes his return after eight-months off. A five-month absence was certainly no harm to his chances last year. Dropped back into a Class Four contest, he’s surely a leading contender.