We are certainly not short of opportunities on Thursday with three meetings taking place on the AW. The classiest fixture is at Lingfield which stages two Listed races for fillies and mares.

The 1m5f contest at 1.55 looks the more open of the two events with the race having gone to a 3yo five times in the last seven years. That is significant given that age-group is in the minority this year and one of them, FAVORITE MEMORY, could prove the answer. From a stable that excels with fillies, Ralph Beckett’s charge’s two victories have come in small fields over 1m4f on turf. She didn’t perform very well in a Group 3 at Newmarket last time, but given she had run the winner of that race to less than a length on the Kempton Polytrack earlier this year, it’s probably fair to say she was below her best. The stable could have run any number in this race and the fact she is the chosen one may be telling.

Perhaps the most competitive card is at Southwell where one of the main events is the 0-85 handicap over 6f at 6.30. A full complement of 14 horses are due to line up and not many of them can be easily dismissed, but ARARAT looks to hold a solid chance in his bid for a course-and-distance hat-trick. Robert Cowell’s gelding only appears to do just enough, hence the narrow margins in gaining those two victories. Such horses are a nightmare for the handicapper to keep tabs on and despite another 3lb rise, he remains 3lb lower than when successful at Chelmsford in August last year.

Even more appealing is GIFTED ANGEL in the closing 0-75 handicap over 1m4f at 8.30. Jack Jones’s gelding ran a blinder on his return from a year off when second of seven over 1m2f at Chelmsford three weeks ago, but not only does he race off the same mark here, with his two wins in the autumn of 2024 coming over 1m4f/1m6f the return to a longer trip can only be in his favour.

Over at Newcastle the feature is the 0-90 handicap over 6f at 5.45 and it’s certainly competitive enough for the grade, but I do like the look of PADDY’S DAY. Nigel Tinkler’s gelding does like it here with his record over course and distance reading 142711111. Just 1lb above his last winning mark, this is easier than most of the races he has been contesting since the spring and although he hasn’t been seen for 84 days, he can go well fresh. David Bellingham