Dave Nevison tips: two best bets for Thursday's action

Landlordtothestars has either won narrowly or been beaten in close finishes in his past five starts and looks a most progressive type over distances of around a mile. 

He was noted early in his career as being a horse “with plenty of size about him” and, now a four-year-old, is probably more the finished article. 

The James Evans-trained gelding has struck up a good relationship with claimer Joe Leavy, who is my apprentice tip for this year, and the combination look well berthed in stall 2 to go close again here.  

Meeting abandoned.

The cat is out of the bag with this horse who, after two quiet runs when 150/1, was very well backed last time but had to be withdrawn at the start. 

It is not difficult to see why he attracted support as on his latest completed start Brandt stayed on well to be a good fourth at this track over the minimum trip. He is now upped half a mile and is very much bred to be suited by a stamina test. 

He has top weight here but a mark of 99 looks reasonable for his handicap debut. It will be very interesting to see if he is again popular in the market.