Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets for Thursday
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Our pundit Dave Nevison reveals a rare ante-post bet for next season and shares a further three tips for Thursday, including from Epsom. Enjoy further coverage from Chelmsford as we race through right until 8.30pm live on Racing TV.
I very rarely back ante-post these days, but I have had a decent bet on Inspiral for next year’s 1000 Guineas so I will be glued to the May Hill at Doncaster. She is a very short-priced favourite on Thursday and needs to win and show speed to take to Newmarket next spring.
I think I remember John Gosden saying that the Guineas is the last big three-year-old race of the season and I am hoping he is campaigning this filly to peak in the Classic. Her dam was runner-up in the 1000 Guineas – hopefully Inspiral can take a step towards going one better than her mum.
2.55 Epsom: Valentino Dancer
Dave Nevison
Finished: 5thSP: 4/1
He won a strangely-run race last time under the trainer’s daughter Fern O’Brien and I feel he was much more superior than the margin on the day.
Left in the lead two and a half furlongs out, Valentino Dancer was headed and then rallied to win on the nod. He has only gone up 2lb for that and hopefully things will be more straightforward for the yard’s regular jockey Paddy Brennan.
Valentino Dancer can confirm the form with the consistent Tralee Hills, while he has certainly been in good form over hurdles and on the Flat this summer - following the pattern of his yard generally.
3.15 Doncaster: Tribal Craft at 8/1
Dave Nevison
Finished: 5thSP: 14/1
Nothing went right for this mare in the Ebor and she got blocked several times when trying to make her run. However, with a couple of confirmed front-runners here in a smaller field she will hopefully get a clear passage through and confirm herself a Group Two horse.
Tribal Craft is already a Group Three winner this season and was runner-up at this level behind Wonderful Tonight on her penultimate start at Goodwood. She is clearly suited by this trip and her chance will be even better if any rain were to fall.
5.00 Epsom: Mercurius Power
Dave Nevison
Finished: 1stSP: 13/8
He has been running pretty well all season and can score for the second time here.
Silvestre De Sousa is always a good jockey booking at this course and has steered many characters around this tricky track, though Mercurius Power seems pretty straightforward and ran well last time for second at Salisbury.
He is off the same mark here and, while he might not have too much improvement up his sleeve, a glance at the opposition reveals several that have peaked or are starting to look regressive. I have to come back to the Andrew Balding runner.
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