Thursday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data for three horses in focus at Newmarket and Doncaster

13:50 Newmarket - 'Sectional' horse Del Maro to confirm Royal Ascot form

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Del Maro (Ger)

• J: William Buick
• T: Charlie Appleby
• F: 2323-1422

• SBK 6/4
• EXC 2.68

The second, fourth and sixth from the Queen's Vase reoppose here and it's Del Maro, who fared best of the trio, that is fancied to confirm the placings having picked up a 'sectional flag' with a storming finish that day.

The Godolphin-owned colt has a modest win record but has progressed with each start this season, and has done nothing wrong in being beaten a nose on his last two starts.

He clearly stays well, should be ridden a bit closer to the pace here in this smaller field, and he can secure a fourth win in six years in this race for the yard.

14:45 Doncaster - Count Bezukhov to get a sighter of Town Moor

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Count Bezukhov (Ire)

• J: Billy Loughnane
• T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 31

• SBK 5/4
• EXC 2.82

The winner of this race gets free entry into the St Leger itself, but connections of Count Bezukhov know all about the final Classic, having won it with Jan Brueghel (trained by Joseph's father Aidan) just two years ago.

A winner at the Curragh when last seen in late-May, Count Bezukhov actually won the same maiden that Jan Brueghel did, having previously caught the eye when a never-nearer third behind stablemate Cannes on debut.

He showed plenty of resolution - dropped in trip and fitted with a tongue-tie - to reel in Lonely Island last time, and the step back up in distance here will suit a horse that clearly has plenty of stamina.

15:00 Newmarket - Thunder Call the pick of the 'horses in focus'

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Thunder Call

• J: Tom Marquand
• T: William Haggas
• F: 02-11

• SBK 10/3
• EXC 4.9

Two of the 14 runners that are due to line up for this heritage handicap caught the attention of the Timeform race reporters last time, both in the same race at York. Thunder Call saw off Red Spells Danger by half a length that day and is fancied to confirm that form despite being 2 lb worse off.

A runaway winner of a Kempton maiden in May, the William Haggas-trained colt was making his handicap debut that day at York but coped with the hustle and bustle of the big field really well.

Thunder Call has fewer rivals to beat today, but arguably a tougher assignment given the promise of the field and expected improvement from many. However, his jockey felt that his mount responded well once challenged late on and that attitude should go a long way to defying what could prove a lenient 6 lb rise in the weights.

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