Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday including 30/1 Leopardstown fancy

Bet of the Day: Newmarket, 14:20 - Back Dashing Dick E/W @ 17/29.50

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Dashing Dick (Ire)

• J: Taryn Langley
• T: William Stone
• F: 51-788365

• SBK 17/2
• EXC 7

Dropping in class, top weight Dashing Dick should put in a bold bid under 3lb claiming Taryn Langley in this mile handicap. He's currently 4lb below his last winning mark when successful over 6f in November, and has shown form over this trip in the past, including when third at odds of 22/123.00 in a Yarmouth handicap last autumn.

The course winner has plenty of experience on the July Course and is on a workable mark from which he should be able to put in a competitive effort.

Trained by William Stone, the experienced eight-year-old, who makes his 65th career start, can go close as he bids for a sixth career win, and could return to the winners' enclosure in familiar surroundings.

Chepstow, 17:20 - Back Double Red @ 3/14.00

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Double Red

• J: Rob Hornby
• T: Henry Candy
• F: 815-18442

• SBK 3/1
• EXC 1.11

Henry Candy-trained Double Red makes the most appeal in this mile-and-a-half handicap under Rob Hornby.

The five-year-old was only narrowly denied by Sudbury Hill over a mile-and-a-quarter at Salisbury when last seen recently and drops in class here which could allow him to go one place better. He's currently only 3lb higher than his last winning mark and could have further improvement to come over this distance.

Unexposed over this trip, the son of Belardo has stayed on well enough over shorter in the past to suggest this distance is worth another go. He emerged with some credit, despite being well beaten by winner Timber Twelve, when fourth at Epsom in his penultimate start, his first try at this distance, and could shape better this time around.

Leopardstown, 18:35 - Back Endorsement @ 2/13.00

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Endorsement (Ire)

• J: D. B. McMonagle
• T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 2128-2312

• SBK 7/4
• EXC 1.1

In the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes run over a mile-and-a-half, a couple of Joseph O'Brien-trained runners make appeal. The first is stable debutant Endorsement, who makes his first appearance in the colours of JP McManus having changed hands and left Ballydoyle.

The son of Wootton Bassett shaped with great promise as a juvenile last season, chasing home Benvenuto Cellini in a Killarney maiden on debut before beating Limestone to get off the mark at Tipperary. He then finished second to former stablemate Pierre Bonnard in the Group Three Zetland Stakes, before failing to make an impression when upped to Group One level in Saint-Cloud.

This year, the three-year-old colt has run consistently well with a number of noteworthy performances. He was only just denied by future Derby winner Christmas Day on reappearance here in the Ballysax Stakes, before finishing half-a-length third to James J Braddock and Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial Stakes at the same track.

Following a course-and-distance win here in June, Endorsement finished a good second in the Hampton Court Stakes, and, with plenty of noteworthy form to his name, and in receipt of the weight-for-age allowance against his older rivals, he could put in a bold bid in this contest.

Leopardstown, 18:35 - Back Omni Man E/W @ 30/131.00

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Omni Man (Ire)

• J: J. M. Sheridan
• T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 15163-985

• SBK 30/1
• EXC 1.1

Outsider of the field Omni Man has plenty to find on ratings and form, but remains largely unexposed in Stakes company and is better than shown so far this season. He put in an improved effort to finish fifth in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes from a mark of 101 when last seen, finishing just ahead of subsequent winner Hopewell Rock, and there could be more to come from him back in Group Three company.

Last season, the son of Invincible Spirit placed at Listed level, following a Goodwood Festival success and a fifth-placed effort in the King George V Stakes. He faced some tough opposition and appeared to be progressing nicely into black-type company.

Omni Man was entitled to improve for his opening run of the season at the Curragh and was never in a position to threaten in his previous outing at this venue, but, following a promising run in a competitive Royal Ascot handicap back over this distance, he shouldn't be discounted and could outrun his odds under Joey Sheridan.

Southwell, 19:16 - Back Showtime Mahomes E/W @ 14/115.00

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Showtime Mahomes

• J: Oliver Stammers
• T: Grant Tuer
• F: 7994-1640

• SBK 18/1
• EXC 1.11

Course-and-distance winner Showtime Mahomes has plenty of good form at this track in his favour as he returns from a 163-day break for Grant Tuer. He has run well first time out in the past, therefore could be capable of making his presence felt under Oli Stammers in his first outing since February.

The seven-year-old gelding is currently back on his last winning mark of 63, 3lb lower than his penultimate win, and makes appeal at the weights. If ready to go on his reappearance, he should be capable of making the frame and warrants consideration.

Leopardstown, 19:45 - Back Darkdeserthighway E/W @ 6/17.00

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Darkdeserthighway (Ire)

• J: D. B. McMonagle
• T: M. D. O'Callaghan, Ireland
• F: 175-33086

• SBK 6/1
• EXC 1.01

Stepping back up in distance, eight-year-old mare Darkdeserthighway could be worth keeping the faith in following a promising run at odds of 33/134.00 at Naas on Monday. She ran on strongly that day over 7f to be beaten only two-lengths by the winner, Zheleznaya Dama, and, despite the quick turnaround, could go close again for Michael O'Callaghan.

In the hands of champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has enjoyed plenty of winners in recent weeks, the experienced performer could return to winning ways from a workable mark.

Southwell, 20:26 - Back El Burhan E/W @ 5/16.00

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El Burhan (Ire)

• J: Jack Callan
• T: George Boughey
• F: 13/1091-54

• SBK 6/1
• EXC 1.1

George Boughey-trained contender El Burhan has put in two creditable efforts in competitive handicaps this season, and could make it third time lucky from a mark of 99. He's 5lb higher than his when recording his latest success at Ayr, but is still relatively unexposed having made only 10 starts to date.

On debut, the son of New Bay, who was purchased for 210,000gns as a foal, finished fourth to the talented, sadly ill-fated Ancient Truth, before recording two successive wins and placing in a 16-runner Goodwood Festival handicap. He recorded success at the Chester May Festival in his first start of his second campaign, before returning to form at the end of the season following two disappointing efforts during the summer.

Having amassed some valuable experience, El Burhan should be able to pose a threat in this field under Jack Callan, and could still be capable of showing further progression. He has shown to possess plenty of talent and there could be more to come from him.

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