Thursday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including one 11 lb clear on ratings

Yarmouth, 15:50 - 'Horse In Focus' Alice de Clare stands out on ratings

Alice de Clare stepped up markedly on her previous efforts when only narrowly denied on her handicap/turf debut at Beverley last week.

Alice de Clare was beaten a neck by the well-backed favourite, Barbury Boy, but she went down fighting and pulled six and a half lengths clear of the third, looking a long way ahead of her opening handicap mark.

That promising performance earned Alice de Clare the Horse In Focus Flag from Timeform's reporter, marking her out as one likely to be of firm interest next time, and she is well treated able to run off the same mark as at Beverley. She heads Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 11 lb so clearly stands out as the one to beat.

Lingfield, 16:35 - Willow Wood can improve on last season's efforts

Willow Wood failed to make a telling impact in three starts at around a mile last season, but this 200,000 guineas purchase has a good middle-distance pedigree and is likely to come into her own over longer trips this year.

She is out of an unraced half-sister to the top-class middle-distance performer Nathaniel, and is a half-sister to a couple of winners who stayed a mile and three-quarters.

Willow Wood steps up in trip to a mile and a quarter for her handicap debut and has the Timeform 'small p' to show that she's expected to improve. Trainer Ed Walker's record with three-year-olds on handicap debut also bodes well for Willow Wood's prospects as he's had four winners from 11 such representatives this month.

Punchestown, 16:50 - 'Horse In Focus' McLaurey should be suited by drop back in trip

McLaurey faded into seventh when sent off second favourite for the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, but he ran better than that position would suggest and was awarded the Horse In Focus Flag.

McLaurey made good progress down the far side of the course and had moved into a challenging position, alongside the eventual winner Madara, as they headed down the hill. He was still firmly in contention, albeit not travelling as well as Madara, when they turned for home, but he failed to see out the two-and-a-half-mile trip and faded.

The pick of McLaurey's efforts over hurdles came when he landed a valuable two-mile handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival last season, and he looks capable of making his mark in a similar event over fences. He should be suited by the drop back in trip at Punchestown and still has the Timeform 'small p' to show he has more to offer under the right circumstances.

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