UK Horse Racing Tips: Thirsk

Plenty of chances in this field with the tentative selection being PHONE TAG, who was never on a going day when fourth over 7f at Goodwood on his nursery debut last time, but there was still enough promise to suggest a good run can be expected today. Hugo Palmer's runner was beaten five lengths on that occasion and this appears to be an easier assignment on paper. Straight A should also be thereabouts after running with credit in a big-field contest at York, while Sleven heads the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Phone Tag 2nd Straight A 3rd Sleven

COLORADA DANCER made a very promising start to his career when beaten just a nose into second on his racecourse debut over 7f at Sandown and this looks a good opportunity to go one better. Boiling Point has shaped in his two starts to date that a win could be just around the corner and he is likely to pick up the pieces should the selection not fire, while Strong Request looks booked for third.
Prediction : 1st Colorada Dancer 2nd Boiling Point 3rd Strong Request

FIRING SQUAD ran a decent race on his racecourse debut here over 6f and he is fancied to get his head in front at the second time of asking. Karl Burke's charge finished fourth on that occasion but shaped as if this step up in trip may yield improvement. Miners Gamble may pose the most questions to the selection after a staying-on fourth over 6f at Redcar, while Hand Jive can also hit the frame.
Prediction : 1st Firing Squad 2nd Miners Gamble 3rd Hand Jive

Archduke Ferdinand is the only one to bring winning form into this race but a 6lb rise for last month's Doncaster success could leave him vulnerable in such a competitive field. Veteran former C&D winners Reputation and Muntadab both showed enough last time out to warrant a look, but POET'S MAGIC has now dropped to below her last winning mark and showed enough when third at Carlisle last time to suggest another victory isn't far away.
Prediction : 1st Poets Magic 2nd Archduke Ferdinand 3rd Reputation

ZAMAN JEMIL didn't fire in better company at Ascot last time but he'd produced a taking performance to win going away over C&D and is probably worth another chance. Sterling Knight was also a winner at Windsor when last seen in this grade and is better than he has shown on softer ground the last twice, whilst Brazen Bolt has gone well in defeat on all three previous starts at this track, including when runner-up over C&D last week.
Prediction : 1st Zaman Jemil 2nd Sterling Knight 3rd Brazen Bolt

A decent contest in which Silent Words and Origintrail, both solid in defeat recently, have to be of interest stepping up in trip, while Wild Side ran too bad to be true when bidding for a four-timer at Newmarket last time and shouldn't be written off. For all that, the improving ZAPPHIRE didn't look anything like the finished article when belying a lack of market confidence to win her handicap debut at Haydock last month and a 6lb rise may not be enough to prevent her going in again.
Prediction : 1st Zapphire 2nd Silent Words 3rd Origintrail

DUBAI WELCOME performed with credit on his return from a 407-day break at Newbury last month and, with improvement expected, he may be able to bounce back to winning ways. The six-year-old has dropped down to a nice mark and is preferred to the likes of Wor Willie, who has dropped down to his last winning mark, and Newmarket third Shake A Leg.
Prediction : 1st Dubai Welcome 2nd Wor Willie 3rd Shake A Leg

MICHAEL'S PLEDGE may be a maiden through seven starts but he is as consistent as they come at this level and, having gone close on his last two starts, deserves a change in luck. John Quinn's charge gets the vote ahead of the likes of Tendentious, who was a comfortable winner at Redcar last month, and Muzaffar. Hondo and Lednikov are also entitled to be thereabouts.
Prediction : 1st Michaels Pledge 2nd Tendentious 3rd Muzaffar