David Ord was among the winners on Wednesday and Matt Brocklebank looks ahead to Thursday's action.
Thursday selections
DOYOUKNOWWHATIMEAN - 13:20 Wetherby (NAP)
Pleasington is going to be a popular pick here back on soft ground and up in trip but it would be really dangerous to overlook DOYOUKNOWWHATIMEAN. He won four handicap chases for Dan Skelton and while out of sorts on his final run for that yard at Market Rasen in summer, the nine-year-old made a good debut for new trainer Gary Hanmer when beaten narrowly at Uttoxeter around a month ago. The winner, Largy Force, has come out and run very well in a stronger race at Windsor last weekend so Doyouknowwhatimean going up 1lb looks perfectly justified, and he's another who is best with plenty of dig in the ground (currently Soft).
DUFFRY TRIXS - 14:40 Huntingdon
DUFFRY TRIXS was only third of six on his handicap debut at Lingfield last month but that first outing for 298 days is bound to have done some good physically and, from the same mark and down slightly in trip at Huntingdon, he's fancied to step up and claim a second hurdles win. His maiden success at Taunton last February came over this sort of intermediate distance and he's still got plenty of time on his side being a lightly-raced seven-year-old from a yard that had a winner earlier this week.
GEORDIE MACKEM - 16:00 Southwell
GEORDIE MACKEM hasn't stood much racing so may not be the easiest to train but the sizeable son of Jack Hobbs did show a bit of promise in his first couple of runs in bumpers and he's qualified for a Flat handicap mark by running over shorter trips. The latest outing over 10 furlongs didn't look to suit at all but he's now able to run from an opening mark of 70 which looks manageable and stepping right out to a mile and three-quarters at Southwell could play to his strengths. I'll take Brian Ellison's horse to cause a bit of a surprise in this field.
ALY A'ALI - 17:00 Newcastle
ALY A'ALI looks up to winning races and perhaps that will come to fruition now tackling five furlongs for the first time at Newcastle, with the addition of cheekpieces another potential source of improvement. The key, however, is surely the move into moderate handicap company after she tried to make all the running in a six-furlong maiden here when last seen in September. The winner that day, Storm Esme, is rated 79 after going in again later in the year and Aly A'Ali's opening mark of 60 looks workable.
Friday selections
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PASSING PLEASURE - 16:00 Doncaster (NAP)
Probably not a great punting card at Doncaster but the final race is intriguing with Mask Of Zorro, Romeo Brown and PASSING PLEASURE all coming into it on a roll. It's a big week for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero with Jagwar back in action at Cheltenham on Trials Day and their Passing Pleasure appeals most here following hurdle and chase wins at Musselburgh and Catterick respectively. He's back over the smaller obstacles on Town Moor and, despite being 9lb higher in the weights, looks to have really turned a corner since joining this yard and being fitted with a tongue-tie this season. He's still only six and can defy the assessor with the move up to three miles expected to help eke out further improvement.
DWIGHT K SCHRUTE - 14:37 Warwick
DWIGHT K SCHRUTE has shaped like he's got a bigger effort in him under the right circumstances on a couple of occasions in the past, including when fourth over a similar trip to this at Fontwell on Boxing Day. He was beaten less than four lengths that day, having cut out much of the running, and it was a very reasonable confidence-booster having taken a fall on chasing debut at Ffos Las the previous month. Eased 1lb in the weights, with Gavin Sheehan taking over from 7lb claimer Isabelle Ryder, Friday could be the day it all clicks into place for Jamie Snowden's lightly-raced seven-year-old.
NIVELLE'S MAGIC - 16:40 Wolverhampton
No pace on here whatsoever and it would be no surprise to see NIVELLE'S MAGIC make the running under Jack Nicholls from stall one. She ran another really solid race in defeat when back from a short break over a mile and three furlongs at Kempton last month and although technically in need of another career-best effort in order to defy a 1lb higher mark of 70 here, she's evidently in good nick (her stable enjoyed two recent winners) and is backed to hold them all at bay.
GOLDEN PHARAOH - 18:15 Southwell
Down To The Kid is going to be popular here off just 3lb higher than his latest course victory but GOLDEN PHARAOH has classier form in the book, despite lining up on the back of a string of seconds. He keeps edging up the weights for being beaten too which isn't ideal but you can't fault his attitude and this drop from 0-85 company into a 0-80 handicap represents a golden opportunity to break the frustrating run.
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2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Ladronne 6/4
- Bel Ombre 85/40
- Morrophore 6/5
- Lewisham Grove 9/4
- Maximising 15/2
- Big Zouk 11/8 (NAP)
- Silver Thorn 3/1
- Merrimack 13/8 (NAP)
- My Champion 11/4
- Fasol 4/1
- Nebras 7/2
- Mapledurham 5/2
- Soldierofthestorm 9/4
- Lake Como 11/10
- Ballymackie 5/6 (NAP)
- Kruger Park 3/1
- Indeevar Blue 9/2
- Kitzbuhel 13/8
- Gazette Bourgeoise 7/2
- Supreme Malinas 7/2
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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