Thursday free horse racing tips: A tip of the hat to Trilby

It is possible that this four-year-old filly might be an improved performer this season, judged upon her reappearance victory over today’s course and distance last time. True she had dropped down to a mark 1lb below her most recent victory but she looked quick as she blasted down the middle of the track and had the opposition in trouble some way out.

There are several strong indicators for her following up here. Firstly she is once again ridden by Jack Doughty who was on her last time and is backing up at Haydock, a track she clearly goes well at with form figures of 129431 (and that 9th place came after almost a year off the track). Interestingly after a win or a good performance she usually reproduces that level of effort for at least another run so I would be very disappointed if she couldn’t go well again here. Yes, she is 7lb higher than last time but she has actually run really well - again over track and trip - off this mark so it absolutely shouldn’t be beyond her.  

Trilby has three unplaced efforts to his name since he scored over today’s course and distance which appears disappointing but closer inspection of those runs can easily offer excuses. First he was unsuited by the fast ground and undulations at Ripon and then in both runs at York he raced away from the action and got stopped in his run but finished eye-catchingly well, particularly last time out. 

The going is good at present at Haydock which is fine but unsurprisingly some summer rain is forecast which should suit Sam England’s sprinter very well. Trilby finds himself able to race off just a 3lb higher mark than for his April success and looks set to get a race run at a very strong pace so could have things run to suit him very well. 

Denis Coakley is a very patient trainer and Gentle Whinny looks like she is set to benefit from his approach pretty soon. She ran really well last time out at Lingfield when visored for the first time, briefly looking like she was going to be a contender in that race but she'd raced too freely and faded out in the last 100 yards.

Ultimately only beaten three lengths into fifth, that race has already produced a next-time-out winner. Gentle Whinny is back on turf hereand 15lb lower in the ratings than when she began life in handicaps. She should be a decent price and looks very capable of landing her first win for two years.