Horse racing tips: Thursday jumps bets from Dave Nevison

Our pundit and resident website tipster Dave Nevison has three tips for Thursday’s cards from Kelso and Taunton. Enjoy more jumping from Thurles live on Racing TV and Racing TV Extra.

1.20 Kelso: Rockmann

It is interesting that trainer Mark Walford kept hold of this horse despite him being absent from the track for almost two years.

Rockmann certainly seemed to suggest it had been worth persevering with him when he did reappear however, running a very solid second in a competitive Carlisle handicap to the well-backed Fenland Tiger who has gone in again since.

Possibly because of his lengthy absence and the bounce factor, Rockmann has been given plenty of time to recover from that but turns up here in a race that is definitely no stronger than the Carlisle event.

2.20 Taunton: Potters Venture

Potters Venture might just be the answer here.

This is a competitive novice handicap chase and the market will be dominated by the Paul Nicholls-trained Huelgoat in his bid for a five-timer. He has looked impressive but beaten a total of 11 rivals for his four wins and has gone up 23lb in the weights. He will be short and might push the value elsewhere in this field.

Potters Venture was obviously expected on his debut for the Keiran Burke yard in a small but useful field at Newton Abbot last time. That race is working out well already and a 4lb rise for that win looks very fair while still leaving him on an 8lb lower mark than when he started out over fences last season.

Harry Kimber is riding very well in the West country this season and his 5lb claim will be very handy over this three-mile trip once again.

2.50 Taunton: Pasvolsky

He reverts to hurdles having won a small-field handicap chase in good style at Plumpton on his reappearance and, after exploiting a good handicap mark there, sits on his lowest mark for a while over hurdles in this competitive field.

Chris Gordon has booked his son to ride again and certainly Freddie has been making a very big impression this season - and he didn’t do at all badly on Pasvolsky at Cheltenham last May off a 4lb higher mark when finishing third.

Pasvolsky will have competition for the lead here but hopefully his young rider will judge the pace correctly and hold on at a track that favours those racing from the front.