Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday including 12/1 Chelmsford pick

• Katie Midwinter has selections across the cards on Thursday

• Classy performer can bounce back for Closutton

• Olly Murphy-trained contender holds strong claims

Punchestown, 13:20 - Back Amen Kate E/W @ 6/17.00

Five-year-old mare Amen Kate shed her maiden tag over obstacles with a comfortable success as the 1/31.33 favourite at Galway in October, having finished a 13-length third to Carrigmoornaspruce in her hurdling debut at Listowel the previous month. 

There should be more to come from the daughter of Augusta Kate, and the step up in trip could bring out further improvement. Her dam was a Grade One winner over the intermediate distance of two-and-a-half-miles, and was also competitive over three miles, suggesting an extra 3f could allow Amen Kate to pose a threat under Sean Flanagan. 

In a Listowel bumper on debut, Amen Kate beat Carrigmoornaspruce, who would go on to achieve Grade Three glory at Punchestown, reversing the form, before she went on to finish a creditable fourth to subsequent Champion Bumper winner Bambino Fever in a Leopardstown Grade Two at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

There's substance to the form she has shown already and she has the scope for more improvement. With a classy pedigree, the daughter of Flemensfirth, who fetched €75,000 as a three-year-old, can achieve black-type and shouldn't be discounted at this level despite being up against some unexposed rivals.

Punchestown, 14:20 - Back Sea Of Sands @ 6/17.00

Willie Mullins-trained Sea Of Sands is unlikely to have shown the best of his ability since switching to Ireland from the Jean-Pierre Carvalho operation in Germany. 

A dual winner on the Flat for his former trainer, including in a Hoppergarten Group Three Derby Trial, the son of Sea The Stars has shown enough class to achieve Stakes level success and has also shown glimpses of potential as a hurdler. 

On debut for Closutton, Sea Of Sands recorded a comfortable five-length win over The Mediator, before being sent off as joint-favourite for the Cesarewitch under William Buick. He raced much too keenly at Newmarket to have any impact on the race, in a run worth forgiving, and was able to bounce back with an eye-catching third to stablemate Tounsivator in a Fairyhouse Grade Two. 

On that occasion when placing at Graded level last December, the gelding made good headway late on from the rear of the field under Patrick Mullins, travelling into contention well with purpose. He wasn't able to build on that effort when upped into Grade One company at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, but had excuses having been found to be clinically abnormal post-race. 

Since then, however, he has struggled to make much of an impression and his latest run was disappointing when tailed off in the Irish Cesarewitch. That run was too bad to be true and, on his return to hurdling, he could be worth keeping the faith in considering the talent he has shown in the past. 

The yard has landed the previous two runnings of this race and, although they're well-represented in this year's renewal, with seemingly more fancied contenders among the eight runners, Sea Of Sands is too good on a going day to be ignored and can pose a threat if able to bounce back from his latest run and return to form under Brian Hayes.

Warwick, 14:25 - Back Jackpot d'Ainay @ 7/42.75

Jackpot d'Ainay appears on a workable mark of 111 under champion jockey Sean Bowen in this 2m5f handicap hurdle, capable of posing a threat having finished third in both of his latest two starts. 

He made a pleasing return, despite being the 13/82.63 beaten favourite at Carlisle, beaten only two-and-three-quarter-lengths by Red Cadillac on his return following a 270-day break. Entitled to improve for his reappearance, the unexposed son of No Risk At All makes only his sixth start over fences and could prove better than his current rating suggests. 

There should be plenty of further progression to come from the Olly Murphy-trained six-year-old, who was successful in a novice event at Market Rasen last December, and, being a relative of high-achieving pair Louping D'Ainay and Sirene D'Ainay, should be suited by this step up in distance.

Chelmsford, 20:00 - Back Popmaster E/W @ 12/113.00

Ed Walker-trained Popmaster makes appeal at odds of 12/113.00 in this mile handicap, making appeal at the weights having been competitive from a rating of 103 during the past year. He's now rated 95 as he makes his 50th career appearance, and can make his presence felt in the hands of Kieran Shoemark. 

The likeable and experienced seven-year-old shouldn't be discounted as he bids for a third win on the all-weather. He has been able to hold his own in tough company in recent seasons and is a Listed winner, too. 

Representing value at the prices, the grey gelding should be capable of posing a threat at a venue where he has run well in the past, beaten only half-a-length in his previous sole appearance here in his younger days.

Now read Sam Turner's latest tips here!