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Timeform Daily View | Thursday preview and tips

By Andrew Asquith

Horse Racing

Thu February 27, 2025 · 10M ago

Andrew Asquith provides an overview of the key things to note on Thursday.

Flags point to Badbury Rings

The Neil Mulholland-trained Badbury Rings is an improving horse who got the job done in good style at Wincanton last time and will remain of interest in the weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle (15:35) at Taunton.

He was seemingly brought along with handicaps in mind and he has duly showed improved form since entering this sphere, finishing placed twice over this course and distance – he has the Horses For Courses Flag as a result – bumping into a well-treated mare two starts back.

Badbury Rings built on that promise as expected when going one place better at Wincanton last time, dropped out and travelling well, jumping into the lead at the second-last and in command coming down to the final flight.

He was just pushed out on the run-in, his jockey not at all going for everything and he had more in hand than the half-length winning margin suggests. Badbury Rings pulled well clear of the remainder and is a Horse In Focus who still has the Timeform ‘small p’ attached to his rating. A subsequent 9lb rise makes life tougher, but he strikes as a horse who has much more to offer, and remains one to keep on the right side.

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Notable jockey booking on Barnaby

Barnaby is already a six-time course and distance winner who proved better than ever last time and he can record yet another win at this track in the Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap (17:35) at Newcastle.

He was less exposed than most when resuming winning ways earlier this month, always well positioned close to the pace and never looking like being beaten once hitting the front over a furlong out.

His success last time came in similar fashion, again always well positioned given how the race unfolded, and again impressing with how much he found for pressure, displaying a nice turn of foot and keeping on well.

Barnaby is clearly thriving at present – he has the Horse In Focus Flag – and the booking of up-and-coming claimer Warren Fentiman also earns him the Jockey Uplift Flag. The 7lb he takes off is invaluable and he seems sure to launch another bold bid in a race which doesn’t look much stronger.

Kitaro Kich caught the eye on the clock

Kitaro Kich arrives in form, having hit the frame in all of his last four starts, including a win at Wolverhampton two starts back, and he can go well again in the Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap at Chelmsford (18:00).

He built on recent promise when opening his account over the extended mile at Wolverhampton last month, doing it with a bit to spare, too, making good headway when having to switch and staying on strongly in the final furlong.

Kitaro Kich was arguably unlucky not to follow up over the same course and distance last time, shaping well under a penalty, having to drop in from a wide draw and meeting trouble in-running.

With a clearer run and a stronger pace he would have been bang there at the finish, while his closing sectional also means his effort can be marked up further. He ran the final two furlongs fastest of all (23.33) and 0.5 seconds quicker than the eventual winner.

The return to seven furlongs shouldn’t pose a problem, particularly as there is a strong pace forecast, and Kitaro Kich can confirm himself a horse to remain interested in.