3 minute read

Sam King returns with two selections for you on Thursday…

Thurles 3.05 - Asisaid

Asisaid went straight into my tracker after an eye-catching stable debut at Galway last month and I'm pleased to see him stepping back up to a mile in the Moyne Handicap at Thurles this afternoon.

Held up off a moderate pace over seven furlongs at Galway, the Denis Hogan-trained five-year-old was always going to struggle to land a blow, but he stayed on nicely under hands and heels riding to finish a never-nearer sixth ultimately.

The booking of Colin Keane once more catches the eye and there's no doubt the step back up to a mile will suit. He's well-drawn in gate four this time around and with a 1lb ease in the weights putting him below his last winning mark, surely, it's just a matter of time before this gelded son of Ivawood strikes for new connections.

Odds 6/1

Southwell 4.55 - Naturally

We head back to Britain for our second selection. Ed Walker saddled a nice two-year-old winner at Kempton last night and he may have another above-average type on his hands at Southwell this evening.

Despite only finishing seventh on her debut at Lingfield back in May, Naturally caught the eye with how she finished off her race.

The Kirtsen Rausing-owned daughter of Study Of Man showed clear signs of inexperience in the prelims; unsurprisingly, that was also evident on the track. Following a sluggish beginning, Naturally found herself with plenty to do as the field turned for home but she picked up nicely against the near rail before being hampered at the two-furlong marker. That put an end to any chance she had of getting involved at the business end and understandably, Saffie Osborne wasn't hard on her after.

However, she did rally nicely for pressure and Ed Walker's filly smacks of the type that could take a sizeable leap forward following a nice break.

She should have strengthened both physically and mentally over the summer and with the switch to a more galloping track like Southwell to suit, I'd be surprised if she wasn't firmly in the mix in what looks like a winnable maiden with the market leader Mandana rated just 73.

Odds – 3/1