Borderlescott, former Yorkshire Horse of the Year, gets the opportunity to roll back the years at Thirsk this evening.
Now aged ten and in the twilight of his career, Borderlescott has been the shining sprinting star of the north for several years, thanks to his dual success in the Nunthorpe Stakes and his prolific record for consistency and toughness.
Trainer Robin Bastiman, who has done such a sterling job on the gelding, has yet to get a win out of his stable favourite this season, but Borderlescott has run several good races in defeat.
Opportunity may come knocking for him this evening.
The Thirsk £30K Summer Cup Saturday 4th August Conditions Stakes has attracted only four runners.
Borderlescott is the clear pick of them and is fancied to show his junior rivals a clean pair of heels in the five furlong dash. He is assured of a warm reception if he prevails under Danny Tudhope.
Fama Mac is overdue a winning turn and Neville Bycroft’s five-year-old is taken to get his head in front in the Go Racing At Beverley Tomorrow Handicap.
Runner-up on his last three starts, Fama Mac has been running well enough to suggest that he can clinch this six-furlong sprint.
David O’Meara continues in good form and the Nawton trainer has good prospects of a Thirsk double with Lava Steps (6.50) and Ingleby Exceed (7.50), while Jawaab (8.20), trained by Phil Kirby, is also worth noting.
Although it is more than two months since he last officially ran in a race, Jawaab did win the charity race at York recently, coming with a wet sail in the closing stages to snatch a narrow victory under Rebecca Jones.
He will have Gary Whillans, an in-form apprentice, on board this evening.
In the opening juvenile contest, Marabout (6.20) is napped to win for Warthill trainer Mel Brittain.
There was plenty of optimism about the youngster’s chances of making a winning debut at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and, in a messy race, he finished a respectable fourth under Graham Lee.
Paul Mulrennan takes over tonight and, with that initial experience under his belt, Marabout is napped to come out on top.
Brittain, whose horses are in good heart, can also have a winner at Beverley tomorrow.
He saddles Carragold in the Remember John ‘Mother’ Hubbard Handicap and this course winner comes into this race on the back of a sound effort at York, where he finished a solid fourth to Edmaaj in a pretty competitive handicap.
O’Meara, trainer of Edmaaj, provides tomorrow’s nap selection in Elusive Bonus in the second division of the Stars Of The Future Apprentice Handicap.
The three-year-old bounded home by a wide margin at Redcar on Saturday and is fancied to complete a double, again ridden by David Bergin, who has just joined the O’Meara stable from Ireland, where he rode one winner. He could prove a useful addition to the team.
Also worth keeping an eye on at Beverley are Ollie Pears’ Throwing Roses (2.30), who has finished second in all her three starts, and Dotty Darroch (5.00), already a winner this season and trained by Bastiman, which makes the four-year-old a stable-mate of Borderlescott.
Racing selections
Thirsk (today)
6.20 Marabout (NAP), 6.50 Lava Steps, 7.20 Miss Complex, 7.50 Ingleby Exceed, 8.20 Jawaab, 8.50 Borderlescott, 9.20 Fama Mac.
Today’s other meetings
Chepstow, Windsor and Wolverhampton.
Beverley (tomorrow)
2.30 Throwing Roses, 3.00 Halla San, 3.30 Carragold, 4.00 Cut The Cackle, 4.30 Cufflink, 5.00 Dotty Darroch, 5.30 Elusive Bonus (NAP).
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Brighton, Newbury and Newton Abbot.
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