2:33 Thirsk Tips

Comfortable winner on debut for William Haggas over 1 mile at Kempton in December. It was a taking effort by the Kingman colt who quickened nicely to win there. Tom Marquand (SR 20%) booked. Opposition not very strong so the selection is expected to score on seasonal debut.

Said Bin Suroor runs two at Thirsk today, and Gentle Touch has strong each way claims and is a generous 7/2 at writing. The horse has been brought along steadily by Said and could show further here. The race isn't full of promising types, so we are hoping that the improvement hopefully sees Summer Heat winning or very close up... hence each way claims.

Arf's Duchess is a 3-year-old filly trained by Charles Hills. She has run just once and is a 12th foal related to 8 winners, three of which acquitted themselves in pattern races, notably Imperial Fighter (112), Bunker (107), and Imtiyaaz (96). The dam was pretty ordinary but related to the three horses who performed well in pattern races, so Arf's Duchess has a nice pedigree and should have benefited from her debut run. Charles Hills is also 42/249 in these types of events, showing a healthy LSP of £49.60, and she receives up to a stone from her rivals.

Off Spin is in stall 9 and returns from a 286-day break for Tim Easterby with David Allan booked. He runs off a mark of 71, which could be workable based on his early runs. From three starts, he has placed once at this 7f trip and also placed once on similar going. Still unexposed with just three runs under his belt, he could come on from last year's experience, especially for a yard that does well here. Each-way claims if sharp enough and if the early pace helps him settle.

Mary Anne Maximus is a 3-year-old filly trained by Brian Ellison. She didn't show much on debut at 200-1, beaten 16.5 lengths, but dwelt at the start and was slowly away. Brian Ellison is in good form, picking up 5 wins from the last 23 starters. She is out of a pretty ordinary dam related to six winners, five of which won on the flat, notably Talwar with 4 out of 19 wins, winning three times as a 2-year-old and a listed race on 3-year-old reappearance. A speculative bet, but in receipt of up to a stone from most of her rivals, a speculative each-way bet is warranted under Faye McManoman.