Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday including 50/1 Newcastle outsider

• Katie Midwinter has selections across the cards on Thursday

• Likeable veteran can strike in Thurles feature

• Experienced performer is on a workable mark at Chelmsford

Thurles, 12:17 - Back Appreciate It @ 9/43.25

Eleven-year-old veteran Appreciate It was a convincing six-length winner over Classic Getaway in Grade Two company here in January, recording his first win for two years since landing a 21-length chase success at Naas in 2023. 

Despite failing to strike in the subsequent couple of years, Appreciate It did put in multiple creditable performances including when beaten only half-a-length by Fastorslow, when ahead of stablemate Galopin Des Champs, in the 2023 renewal of the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. The Closutton representative had previously finished second in the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival, as well as achieving a third-placed finish to El Fabiolo in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. 

The point winner, who was third to Envoi Allen in his first ever racecourse start in a Ballinaboola point back in 2018, chased home Ferny Hollow in the 2020 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival before returning to the meeting a year later with an electrifying 24-length Supreme Novices' Hurdle success, following his first Grade One at Leopardstown. Absent for 364 days following, he lined up against a dominant Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, given a tough task when eventually finishing sixth, off for 279 days subsequently. 

Things hadn't been straightforward for the clearly talented performer, who has been tried over varying distances including an attempt at the Grand National this year. He was brought down at Aintree, with the marathon trip remaining an unknown, however, as a chaser, he has seemed to be most effective over the intermediate distance and this should perfectly suit. He has gone well fresh in the past and makes only his 26th career start despite being in the twilight of his career. 

The likeable gelding is joint-highest rated in this field and, although Affordale Fury may be capable of further improvement as a seven-year-old, Appreciate It has plenty of solid Grade One form in the book and demands respect, particularly over this kind of trip.

Thurles, 12:47 - Back Person Of Interest E/W @ 11/26.50

Person Of Interest recorded an impressive 12-length victory over fences at Downpatrick in August when rated 2lb lower in the hands of 7lb claimer Paddy Hanlon. Sean Flanagan, who guided him to a promising third at Clonmel in his penultimate start, is back aboard, and he is down 3lb from that placed effort, putting him in with solid each-way claims at the weights. 

The son of Walk In The Park remains unexposed, making only his 13th career start, a seventh over the larger obstacles, for Shark Hanlon, and there could be plenty of further progression to come from him. He once finished a head second in a point, therefore has prior experience over fences, and this assignment could well suit. 

One to consider each-way, Person Of Interest is an interesting contender whose ceiling of ability is unknown, and he could be capable of progressing beyond his current rating having already won from a similar mark previously.

Taunton, 14:15 - Back Seeyouinmydreams @ 9/25.50

Paul Nicholls-trained Seeyouinmydreams must defy top weight if she is to return to the winners' enclosure in this 2m3f handicap hurdle, but does have Jay Tidball claiming 5lb in the saddle once again, easing her burden, and should be capable of putting in another competitive performance. 

The seven-year-old mare, a point winner who made an impressive start when an 11-length winner of a bumper on Rules debut, has been a beaten favourite in each of her previous three starts, but does step up in trip which could allow her to fare better, and is without her usual hood.

In her five successes for Ditcheat to date, Seeyouinmydreams has beaten her rivals by a combined distance of 75-lengths, impressing in each win. Her latest win came from a 1lb lower rating in a match with Arclight, the form of which is difficult to decipher, however, she did win from a 5lb lower mark at Exeter in the spring when partnered by Harry Cobden, therefore has proven she can be competitive from a similar weight. 

It may prove worth keeping the faith in Seeyouinmydreams, who has proven she possesses plenty of ability on a going day.

Taunton, 14:50 - Back Man Of The Sea E/W @ 13/27.50

From a mark of 98, Man Of The Sea is one to note for Neil Mulholland in this 2m3f contest. He has won twice on the Flat this year, including when defying odds of 16/117.00 on his reappearance in April, and appears on a workable mark over hurdles considering he has won from a similar rating in the past. 

The nine-year-old finished second to a progressive subsequent dual winner in American Land over this course-and-distance in the spring, beaten only by a horse now rated 12lb higher, and put in a couple of creditable efforts at Fontwell over the following months, too. He's now 7lb lower than his second-placed effort here, and makes plenty of appeal at the weights at a track where he has run well previously.

This could be the time to catch Man Of The Sea, who drops back in trip, on a going day and he warrants consideration at odds of 13/27.50.

Newcastle, 17:15 - Back Lunar Eclipse E/W @ 20/121.00

Kevin Ryan-trained filly Lunar Eclipse returns to handicap company following a run in the Listed Gillies Fillies' Stakes at Doncaster when last seen. She's 2lb higher rated than when half-a-length second to Individualism in her penultimate start but could finally be able to return to the winners' enclosure for the first time since a debut success for David Simcock two years ago.

Since her Newmarket win as a juvenile, Lunar Eclipse has shaped with some potential, finishing third when beaten only half-a-length by Ziggy's Phoenix in a handicap on the Rowley Mile, before being upped into Listed level when managing only eighth behind talented filly Estrange. 

Things haven't quite gone her way since and she has been seen sparingly, but she remains open to showing further improvement and is still unexposed in handicaps. From a workable mark of 83, Lunar Eclipse can make her presence felt under Tom Eaves at odds of 20/121.00.

Newcastle, 18:45 - Back Tough Enough E/W @ 50/151.00

Showcasing gelding Tough Enough showed promise during his first couple of seasons, recording three victories and making the frame twice, too, for trainer James Tate. He was absent for 279 days before making his debut for his current yard, failing to add to those three early successes so far in five starts this year. 

Now trained by Antony Brittain, the five-year-old was an eyecatcher in defeat at Newcastle earlier in the campaign, beaten only a length-and-three-quarters when finishing well from the rear, achieving a sixth-placed finish at the winning post at odds of 40/141.00. That was from a 6lb higher mark and, from a rating of 78 here, he could be able to return to form and make the frame under Cam Hardie. 

It's too early to give up on a horse who has shown clear ability in the past, and, from a workable mark, he is one to note at a price of 50/151.00.

Chelmsford, 19:30 - Back Andaleep E/W @ 14/115.00

Experienced nine-year-old Andaleep is bidding for a 14th career success in his 91st start in this mile-and-a-quarter contest, and makes appeal from a rating of 93, only 2lb above his last win. 

Kieran Shoemark, who partnered him to victory at odds of 18/119.00 in a Racing League race at Yarmouth during the summer, is in the saddle once again as the gelding drops in class following an eighth-placed effort at Kempton, far from disgraced behind King's Code that day. He had previously been beaten only a length-and-three-quarters by Grey Cuban in a competitive York handicap, finishing in fourth as he did at Windsor during August, too. 

The Daniel and Claire Kubler-trained contender has run at this venue previously as a four-year-old, and he's effective over this trip. He's on a decent mark and has plenty in his favour, making him one to consider.

Now read Sam Turner's latest tips here!