Horse racing tips: three for Thursday from Dave Nevison

After 11-4 and 9-4 winners in his first two columns of the week, our resident website tipster Dave Nevison shares his advice for the double-figure field handicaps at Salisbury on Thursday. Enjoy more action from Warwick, Thurles and Chelmsford live on Racing TV.

4.30 Salisbury: Desert Doctor

Desert Doctor was well backed last time over a mile at this track and on similar ground to this and, having tumbled down the weights, justified the support by a narrow margin.

It may seem an unusual move to drop him back to six furlongs after he was just won over two furlongs further but that race was an amateurs’ event and Desert Doctor may well have benefitted from a pace collapse in front of him. It certainly looked that way as he came from way out the back and swooped past horses who had clearly done too much.

That looked like a timely return to form and I am sure Tom Marquand will know what distance he is racing over here! Trainer Ed Walker remains in very good form.

5.02 Salisbury: Battista

He's been a beaten favourite on his last two starts but he still looks like one to stick with.

Battista won a maiden at short odds back in July and in good style (from Emperor’s Clothes who had run well twice since) and he has still looked to be learning on the job since. He came up against a bang in-form course specialist at Sandown on his penultimate start and was unable to peg back Crystal Casque who got first run, while it looked a decent event he was third in last time.

Battista has certainly shown he acts on a soft surface and hopefully he will have learned enough from his recent runs to score here.

5.35 Salisbury: Military Tycoon

The booking of Oisin Murphy on a horse running for the first time since the end of July certainly takes the eye and interest is further increased given this race has been chosen from four entries over the coming days.

Military Tycoon is certainly bred for stamina and should appreciate this step up to 14 furlongs. He hasn’t run badly on his last two starts with the visor on and he wouldn’t have to improve much to win this in any case, but given this race is the pick of four possibles it looks as though today might well be the day for him.