Native Warrior 11/10 Tops Leopardstown Card
Thursday’s racing action promises to deliver plenty for punters, with standout selections and potential value plays across six UK and Irish tracks. The headline act comes in the form of Native Warrior, trading at 11/10 for the 19:00 at Leopardstown. Trained by Karl Burke and piloted by James Doyle, this colt comes in with a fresh pedigree perfectly suited to the seven-furlong trip on soft ground. A last-time-out winner at Haydock where he powered home on similar going, this three-year-old boasts an impeccable profile for the evening's contest. Coupled with Doyle’s sharp strike rate on Burke's runners in Ireland (25% in 2026), Native Warrior is rightly highlighted as one of the day’s best bets.
The race itself is perhaps less competitive than it first appears, with key rivals like Jim Bolger’s Weseron and Dermot Weld’s Silk Path likely to struggle in these conditions. Native Warrior is the epitome of consistency and should take all the beating.
Head over to our Leopardstown racecard to dive deeper into the field.
Beorma Short-Priced but Strong at Worcester (2/3)
Moving away from the flat, Beorma (2/3) runs in the 17:08 at Worcester over a competitive 2m4f on good ground. Dan Skelton saddles this lightly-raced novice hurdler, with his brother Harry taking the reins. The Skelton team are in blistering form this week, operating at a 33% strike rate. Beorma’s second at Uttoxeter on debut was a strong effort considering he hit the front too early, only to be collared late by a race-fit rival. Expect improvement here, especially with a field lacking depth beyond the favourite.
While races at this price range might not offer spectacular each-way value, Beorma features in several excellent accumulator tips for the day.
Never Just A Dream Represents Outstanding Big-Price Value at Newbury (16/1)
Attention now turns to Newbury’s 16:05, where Tom Marquand partners Never Just A Dream at a generous 16/1. In what appears to be a tricky handicap over six furlongs, this Richard Hannon-trained gelding has been overlooked in the market due to his unplaced effort at Windsor last time. But look closer, and you’ll find excuses for that run as he was drawn wide and faced a stiff headwind. Drop him into a strongly-run race on good-to-soft ground, and you have the ingredients for a revival.
Marquand, who owns a healthy 20% strike rate over the past fortnight, has been booked for a reason here. At 16/1, this is unquestionably a great each-way selection.
Military Air a Tempting 20/1 in a Wide-Open Catterick Handicap
The late card at Catterick throws up a true puzzle at 20:23, where Military Air emerges as a fascinating 20/1 outsider in a twelve-runner handicap over 1m4f. Trained by Rebecca Menzies and ridden by Danny Tudhope, this four-year-old has been crying out for a return to softer conditions, with his best effort in the spring coming on a heavy surface at Pontefract.
This is his first attempt at 1m4f, but his pedigree suggests stamina won’t be an issue. Tune-ups at shorter trips have kept his mark competitive, and at 20/1, he’s the ultimate dark horse (pun intended). Back him each-way to capitalise on the generous odds for a possible late shock.
Get the full field breakdown on our Catterick racecard.
Competitive Big Fields Could Create Upsets
Leopardstown’s 20:30 has the makings of an absolute minefield, with 22 runners over 1m1f on soft ground. A race of this magnitude often favours those capable of finding the gaps, and big-priced contenders thrive in such conditions. One name standing out in the early betting is Belgian Dream, currently 14/1.
Similarly, in the 15:30 at Newbury, a sixteen-runner handicap over seven furlongs, those capable of handling variable pace conditions should come to the fore. Tom Marquand’s mount Consecrated (12/1) deserves a second glance, boasting strong mid-division pace necessary for large fields.
Best Bets Summary
- Native Warrior (11/10) – Leopardstown, 19:00. Karl Burke’s colt is well-suited to the going and looks the class act in the race.
- Beorma (2/3) – Worcester, 17:08. Skelton brothers team up with a standout novice hurdler in great form.
- Never Just A Dream (16/1) – Newbury, 16:05. Excellent value each-way with strong course form and Tom Marquand booked.
- Military Air (20/1) – Catterick, 20:23. A dark horse with soft-ground pedigree and stamina to spare.
Keen to explore more fancies? Visit our AI-powered tips or browse today's full racecards. Don’t forget to check for late non-runners, and plot your stakes using our betting calculator.
For early insights into tomorrow’s fixtures, head over to tomorrow’s predictions.
