Friday racing tips: Best bets and odds for Thirsk

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Friday looks set to be a thrilling day of racing and we take a look at the racecard from Thirsk with four selections.

Despite being a beaten favourite last time, BAARBERINI showed enough on debut to suggest that he can come good at the third time of asking.

His initial run at Kempton (7f, AW) clearly surprised a few people as he was allowed to go off at 16/1 with online bookmakers and he showed promise when 3½L third.

Well supported to break his duck at Southwell last time (1m, AW), he was too keen early on and that cost him as the race unfolded, albeit he still finished a 2l second.

Trainer James Horton has his string in good order and if Daniel Muscutt can get his mount some cover from stall seven, he could be a different proposition this time. He looks a small stakes play.

Friday racing tip 1: Baarberini (15.25, Thirsk) – 1pt win @ 11/8 (Bet365)

This looks open and we’ll probably get a price about the best horse in the race (on official ratings), which goes by the name of TOPWARRIOR.

He’s been well beaten in better company than this on his last two starts but the handicapper has relented to the extent that he can now drop in class for this. He’d preceded that with a soft ground Class 3 win at Newbury off a mark of 85.

He has a decent draw, in double figures, so he has the ability to switch either way to suit how the race begins.

His best efforts have been on good ground or slower, so any rain would be a boon but the forecast good looks fine and he should have the class to get involved here, against a field where most of them don’t tend to win at levels quite as high as this.

I’d be tempted to side with him each-way, provided that when the market opens, the price enables that, because these big field handicaps at Thirsk can get a bit messy and he may require some luck.

Friday racing tip 2: Topwarrior (16.00, Thirsk) – 1pt each-way @ 22/1 (Bet365)

He’s A Monster is an interesting runner on his return from an absence and despite topweight, on his best form he’s well treated. He’s also previously won when fresh but the concern is that he seems better away from turf.

Brighton Boy and Palmar Bay are both much respected but the most interesting runner looks to be handicap newcomer MAJESTIC DANE, who makes his turf debut at the same time.

He’s already won on his racecourse debut, so we know he goes well when fresh. That win, at Newcastle (7f, AW) came when odds-on in maiden company.

He improved nicely on that when failing narrowly to make it two from two, despite a penalty, in a novice event back at the same track.

He was gelded in the spring and Karl Burke has been patient with him before bringing him back to the track.

Turf is obviously a bit of an unknown but his pedigree suggests he’ll be fine on it and it would be no surprise if he proves up to defying a mark of 86 at his first attempt.

Helpfully, he’s also drawn towards the inside, which is a good thing over this trip, as it’s not long before they take a left hand turn.

Friday racing tip 3: Majestic Dane (16.38, Thirsk) – 1pt each-way @ 8/1 (William Hill)

The stayers come to the fore in a race that features my final selection of the day, PINATIQUE.

Sir Mark Prescott trains this daughter of Pinatubo, whom he took into his care before her most recent start at Newbury (1m4f, good to firm), when she raced freely and beat just one home in a small field.

Her French wins came at around 1m2f, last year and she was contested Listed and Group races over there, albeit without success.

The key to improvement here could be the step up in trip. She’s a half brother to a 1m7f winner and her dam, Pacifique, also won at up to 1m7f.

We know what a genius Sir Mark has been for decades, when he makes this sort of a move with one of his horses and she wouldn’t need to improve much to have a huge say in the outcome.

Friday racing tip 4: Pinatique (17.13, Thirsk) – 1pt each-way @ 6/4 (William Hill)

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