Trainer and Jockey Spotlight: Optimising Today's Thursday Card
The cards at Southwell, Beverley, Perth, Warwick, and Dundalk offer punters plenty of angles to consider on Thursday, with some high-confidence selections backed by top-tier connections. Front and centre are the powerhouse pairings of Ryan Moore and John & Thady Gosden with Yazin (5/8), and Luke Morris riding Sir Mark Prescott's Raspoutine (2/3). Both feature prominently at Southwell, and we'll break down why these might be the bets of the day. Meanwhile, big fields at Perth and Beverley provide intriguing value for those seeking bigger returns.
Here, we spotlight the trainers and jockeys primed for success, highlight the best value each-way plays, and take a deep dive into AI-recommended fancies. For the full list of today’s runners, check today's full racecards.
Yazin 5/8: The Banker at Southwell (16:57)
Few horses come with the bullet-proof profile of Yazin in the Southwell 16:57, a 1m 13y contest on the all-weather. Trained by the prolific John & Thady Gosden and piloted by none other than Ryan Moore, Yazin boasts a stellar strike rate on artificial surfaces and looks well-placed to extend his record today. At odds of 5/8, he’s short, but rightly so with AI confidence rated at a remarkable 91%.
Last time out, Yazin showed blistering pace over 7f at Wolverhampton, powering home to win by two lengths. The step back up to a mile is right in his wheelhouse. The Gosdens have a 28% strike rate at Southwell this season, and when paired with Moore, that figure edges even higher. His closest rival on paper is Rash Remark (3/1), who also has solid form but seems to lack the finishing kick needed to trouble the favourite. Yazin is undoubtedly one for your multiples; explore today's accumulator tips to build around this solid foundation.
Raspoutine 2/3: Prescott and Morris Team Up for Evening Confidence
It’s a case of deja vu in Southwell’s 19:00, a Class 4 event over the same 1m 13y trip. Raspoutine is another short-price contender at 2/3, and with AI confidence at 90%, it’s clear why Sir Mark Prescott’s three-year-old is hotly fancied. Luke Morris will be in the saddle—a key booking for Prescott, who’s known for setting his horses up for big runs under his long-standing stable jockey.
Raspoutine heads to Southwell on a two-race winning streak, delivering impressive displays at Kempton and Lingfield over similar distances. The Standard going at Southwell won’t pose an issue, and given the lack of depth in this evening’s field, it’s difficult to see who can challenge. Prescott’s record with three-year-olds over a mile stands at 27% this year, further solidifying this horse’s profile.
Miss E C Lavelle's J J Moon 11/10: Jumping Talent at Warwick
Warwick’s 14:30 features our best National Hunt bet of the day, J J Moon, trained by Emma Lavelle and ridden by Ben Jones. Coming in at 11/10, this horse is the standard-setter in a 3m 1f 5y novices' hurdle. With AI confidence at 84%, he’s not quite the sure thing that Yazin or Raspoutine represents, but his credentials are rock solid nonetheless.
J J Moon comes off a gutsy second at Newbury on good ground, indicating both his durability and class. Lavelle’s runners have been firing at a 22% success rate over the last fortnight, and Ben Jones has proven an excellent partner, steering Lavelle’s horses to victory at Warwick on multiple occasions this season. For punters looking to add a jumper to their accas, this is the one. Use our betting calculator to explore potential payout combinations.
Value Bets: Each-Way Fancies at Big Prices
If short prices aren’t your style, today’s racing still has plenty to offer. Here are a few longer odds selections with genuine chances:
- Tigress Lilly (28/1) – Perth 16:40: This handicap hurdle has a 14-runner field, but Tigress Lilly stands out as potentially overpriced. Despite patchy recent form, Jack Power’s presence in the saddle is an interesting booking.
- Ironica De Thaix (25/1) – Warwick 16:00: Charlie Deutsch’s mount may lack consistency, but on her day has shown the stamina required to figure on the sharp end of this 2m contest.
- Jenever (14/1) – Beverley 14:52: Coming off a poor run at Redcar, Jenever’s odds are perhaps over-inflated. Lewis Edmunds teams up with trainer Tim Easterby, a pair who often strike flat success in northern handicaps.
For more each-way opportunities, head over to our each-way selections.
Competitive Races: Big Fields to Watch
If you love the thrill of a competitive handicap, the 16:40 at Perth is hard to ignore. A 14-runner field over 2m 47y offers plenty of each-way angles. Good ground with good-to-soft patches could suit horses with a turn of foot in the closing stages. Keep an eye on Coastal Sunset, another contender from the shortlist at 12/1.
Beverley’s 17:25 rounds out the flat card nicely with 12 runners over 1m 1f 207y. The likes of Dream Poet (9/2) and Callisto Moon (11/2) shape as main protagonists in betting but don’t rule out Primordial Grace at 8/1 for a surprise.
Best Bets Summary
For those looking to focus their punts, here are today’s key recommendations:
- Yazin – 16:57 Southwell (5/8): The standout banker of the day with Ryan Moore aboard.
- Raspoutine – 19:00 Southwell (2/3): Proven stayer with impeccable recent form.
- J J Moon – 14:30 Warwick (11/10): Emma Lavelle’s progressive hurdler has great claims.
- Jenever – 14:52 Beverley (14/1): Overlooked in the market; solid each-way shout.
- Tigress Lilly – 16:40 Perth (28/1): Wildcard entry, anything close to her best sees her in the mix.
As always, check our latest results, and don’t forget to check for late withdrawals that might shake up betting markets.
Looking Ahead
Thursday’s action leads seamlessly into a busy Friday. Don’t miss our tomorrow’s early selections for insights into the next 24 hours of racing, delivered straight to your screen.
