There are meetings across the UK and Ireland at Royal Ascot, Chelmsford, Lingfield, Ripon, Wolverhampton and Leopardstown on Thursday’s race card on what promises to be another thrilling day of racing. Yesterday, we hit the post a couple of times when two of our three selections placed, so let’s hope for better today. Check out our latest horse racing betting tips below.
Best Tip #1: Williamstowndancer – Leopardstown, 20:20
Willie Mullins has two horses with top billing in the last race of the day at Leopardstown, though preference is given to Williamstowndancer.
The former Grade 3 novice hurdle winner scored three times between May and October last year and if she can replicate that ability to flat racing, she should be a major player. Back the 6-year-old to shine on her flat debut.
Her stablemate Pink In The Park is listed as the current second favourite on the best sports betting sites in the UK. However, there are more attractive alternatives elsewhere including Fad Eadrainn.
PT Foley’s charge got off the mark in a bumper flat race at Clonmel last month and the quicker conditions today could suit.
| Bookmaker | Odds |
| Betzone UK | 7/4 |
| Planet Sport Bet | 13/8 |
| Fitzdares | 7/4 |
Best Tip #2: Run This Way – Ripon, 14:40
Run This Way is in excellent form and still looks fairly treated ahead of her hattrick bid at Ripon today.
Last time out, she propelled herself to victory with plenty left in the tank over a trip of 6f at Ripon and though she has gone up another 7lb in the rankings, she has the oomph to defy the handicappers on her return to the same circuit. Run This Way is fancied to flourish again.
You should also leave some room in your thinking for Hurstwood. PD Niven’s 7-year-old has won three times over C&D previously and he competed well against Run This Way at Ripon on May 30th before finishing second on that occasion.
Available at a competitive price today, he looks like an excellent candidate for an each-way finish once more.
| Bookmaker | Odds |
| Betzone UK | 5/2 |
| Planet Sport Bet | 9/4 |
| Fitzdares | 9/4 |
Best Roughie: Going The Distance – Royal Ascot, 15:05
RM Beckett’s Going The Distance finished up for Autumn with back-to-back wins at Ffos Las and Nottingham and he returned to action with a third win on the spin on April 10th when winning over 1m 7f at Kempton.
He looked very comfortable on that occasion and triumphed with room to spare. With prolific jockey Rossa Ryan in the saddle today, Going The Distance could kick on again.
There has been plenty of movement in the direction of Gilded Water on the best betting apps, meanwhile. The same stable won this renewal in 2023 and Gilded Water could be on the same trajectory.
A win at Chepstow when last seen at the end of May impressed and if improvement is maintained, the 3-year-old should be in the mix again and is a strong Royal Ascot betting option.
| Bookmaker | Odds |
| Betzone UK | 7/1 |
| Planet Sport Bet | 7/1 |
| Fitzdares | 7/1 |
Stats and Insights
- There aren’t many tight bends or taxing undulations to navigate at Leopardstown and galloping types are always in with a decent shout there. Jockeys Seamie Heffernan and WJ Lee are in action at Leopardstown today and both riders have enjoyed plenty of success at the track over the last five seasons.
- There is a draw bias towards high numbers at Ripon, however, when conditions are soft – like today – that bias tends to dissolve. Trainer Tim Easterby has lodged 69 wins at Ripon over the last five seasons, however, William Haggas has the better overall win rate (36%) over the same period.
- It’s always savvy to dig out horses with previous course experience at Royal Ascot. Trainers William Haggas, Andrew Balding, John & Thady Gosden, Charlie Appleby and Roger Varian have been very successful three over the last five seasons.
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