Horse Racing Tips for Thursday

The latest horse racing betting tips for Thursday’s cards from Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway.

Thursday’s Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

11:30 Lingfield – Sea Stream @ 8/1
20:00 Southwell –  Sea Master @ 7/1
20:15 Wolverhampton – Virtual Hug @ 6/1

11:30 Lingfield – Sea Stream @ 8/1

The jumps action is in danger due to the cold weather, so it looks worth focusing on the all-weather racing and the best bet at Lingfield is Sea Stream, who goes in the opening 1m4f handicap.

The lightly raced daughter of Sea The Stars is bred to relish the step up to 1m4f for the first time and she has shaped like she would stay further on her last two starts over 1m2f at Chelmsford and Bath.

Sea Stream was behind two horses who have competed in Listed and Group company since grabbing third at Chelmsford in April and, while she failed to build on that when only fourth on turf at Bath the following month, maybe she didn’t enjoy the surface. The return to the all-weather here should suit.

The selection returns from 181 days off the track for a stable with an excellent record in handicaps at Lingfield and Sean Levey takes over from Billy Loughnane in the saddle. Levey is 1-3 when joining forces with the Hills team in the last five seasons and another of his beaten horses finished third.

All of that points to Sea Stream taking a big step forward for a stable that is in flying form right now.

20:00 Southwell –  Sea Master @ 7/1

The 2m1/2f handicap at Southwell looks like a good opportunity for Sea Master, who is dropping like a stone down the weights and hasn’t run badly on his last two all-weather starts.

The Jason Ward-trained gelding was rated a career-high 75 by the BHA at his peak, but runs off only 52 in this event and was beaten less than five lengths when fourth over 1m6f at Wolverhampton in September. A reproduction of that effort would give him a big chance from a 4lb lower mark here.

Sea Master failed to build on that when only sixth at the same track last time, but the drop back to 1m4f might not have been ideal that day and the four-and-a-half-furlongs further here should suit.

Rossa Ryan is a positive taking over from PJ McDonald in the saddle and he has a win, a third and a fourth from just four rides for the Ward stable. That suggests the trainer means business here.

20:15 Wolverhampton – Virtual Hug @ 6/1

The 1m6f handicap at Wolverhampton can go to Virtual Hug, who is on a handy mark and shaped like he might soon be ready to return to winning form when back from a break here last time.

Virtual Hug returned from 58 days off over course and distance 17 days ago and was beaten only a length and three-quarters by the reopposing winner The Resdev Way. The selection has a 3lb pull in the weights with that rival here and has a good chance of reversing the form if coming on for the run.

A three-time course winner who has also won at the track over this distance, Virtual Hug is entitled to improve plenty for that recent outing and trainer Nikki Evans has booked Jack Mitchell for the ride. It will be the jockey’s first for the yard and he has a healthy 18 per cent strike-rate here in recent years.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.