Thursday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a top-rated Horse In Focus

• Brave Knight can bounce back on better ground

• Return to minimum trip will suit Merrimack

• More to come from Silkies Sib 

15:00, Taunton - Brave Knight handicapped to win again under Freddie Keighley

Teenage conditional Freddie Keighley has been making the most of the opportunities provided by his father Martin and his attached stable of Paul Nicholls this season. Among his winners for the latter yard was aboard Brave Knight in a conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Fontwell in October when the partnership hacked up by fifteen lengths.

They started odds on to follow up at the same track twelve days from the same mark but could finish only third under softer conditions which was doubtless a factor in that defeat.

That was also Brave Knight's third run in as many weeks, but he's had a break since that busy spell in the autumn and can get back on the up at Taunton where the forecast going is good. Brave Knight has been allotted top weight, so Keighley's 7 lb claim will come in especially handy. Brave Knight still looks fairly treated even so and heads the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings by a couple of pounds which makes him the one to beat.

19:30, Chelmsford - Merrimack looks hard to catch for in-form yard

Newmarket trainer Stuart Williams had more winners at Chelmsford than any other course in 2025 and, having made a good start to the year which has earned him the 'Hot Trainer' flag, he has a good chance of another winner at the Essex track with Merrimack in the five-furlong handicap.

Merrimack's two wins last year both came on turf in apprentice events over the minimum trip at Windsor and Brighton when forcing the pace on both occasions. The same tactics didn't quite pay off on his latest start at Chelmsford last week but that was over six furlongs and he couldn't quite last home over the longer trip, finishing a close third behind Em Four and Charlie Mason.

But back over five furlongs and racing off the same mark here with apprentice Harry Vigors taking 7 lb off his back, Merrimack makes plenty of appeal heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.

20:30, Chelmsford - Wolverhampton winner Silkies Sib weighted to follow up

James Owen is another trainer who hasn't wasted any time getting winners on the board on the all-weather since the turn of the year and he can keep the momentum going at Chelmsford with Silkies Sib, a relatively new recruit to the yard from Ireland.

Like many who join the stable, it didn't take long for Silkies Sib to open his account for Owen, doing so on his third start for his new connections at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day. Well backed, Silkies Sib did well to overcome trouble in running over two furlongs out but stayed on to lead near the line for a nose win over Scenario who has franked the form by winning at the same track last week.

Silkies Sib's new yard looks sure to get more out of him as he remains attractively handicapped on his old form from a mark in the 50s, being 4 lb clear in the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.

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