Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets for Thursday

4.19 Salisbury: Spanish Star

This largely consistent sprinter has run three good races since a mid-summer break and it looks like his turn is near.

Spanish Star was 28-1 in a huge field at Newbury last time and came home strongly to be beaten less than half a length in third. He hasn’t won at Salisbury but has run a few good races here in the past so I am not worried about the track, especially as it looks like he may have bagged a good draw in stall 4.

The drop back down to six furlongs at this stiffest of tracks should not hinder him and David Probert is in terrific form this season.

5.30 Salisbury: La Pulga

He improved markedly from his first run after a break when third at Newbury last time, running really well for the first time in quite a few starts. His handicap had plummeted previously and, now off the same mark as last time, he looks capable of winning.

La Pulga took up the running a furlong out last time and maybe went a little early as he then wandered and weakened out of it close home. He might have finished a little closer but for being bumped, but I feel if Ryan Moore (riding for the first time here) can deliver him later and keep him straight he should beat these.

7.00 Chelmsford: Enduring

He has dropped back down the weights a little and now looks handicapped to win again.

Enduring won in the summer off 65 and is only 2lb higher here, and with excellent apprentice Benoit De La Sayette claiming an additional 3lb this horse is clearly well in.

Enduring needs to run better than he has the last twice, but from stall 3 he has an opportunity to do so and trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has certainly not been out of form for long.

Enduring has only run at Chelmsford once and finished a good second in a 0-85 handicap, so hopefully returning here in a lower grade could bring about a return to form.