Whiskey Galore worth a shot at Yarmouth

Title-chasing Billy Loughnane is clearly a positive jockey booking for Whiskey Galore in the Moss And C0 Hospitality Nursery at Yarmouth- on Thursday.

Michael Bell’s juvenile failed to beat a single rival in any of his first three races, but that did see him enter the handicap sphere off a lowly mark of 59.

Upped to 1600m for his handicap bow and first start since being gelded, the Sergei Prokofiev gelding consequently performed much better, finishing a close second at Lingfield to Prince Kameo, who has since followed up at Thirsk.

Whiskey Galore is up 2lb but may still have more to give as he transfers back to the grass.

Later on the card, Bell has jocked up reigning champion Oisin Murphy for Easy Answer in the Dan Hague, Rails Bookmaker Nursery.

The son of No Nay Never has been placed twice from three starts and the middle of those runs was as a 100-1 shot for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was predictably outclassed.

He ran well when third at Salisbury last time, though, and that form looks strong with the winner Forbidden Fire striking at Listed level in last week’s Flying Scotsman Stakes.

Easy Answer makes his handicap debut off 76 and it will be disappointing if he is not involved in the finish.

Just a week after going close at Doncaster, Wild Thoughts can claim a deserved victory on day one of the Ayr Gold Cup meeting in Scotland.

Richard Spencer’s three-year-old was rated just 62 at the start of the season, having shown precious little in three starts at two, but a quickfire four-timer in less than a month inevitably saw him rocket up the weights.

He came within a head of making it five wins on the spin at Carlisle at the end of May and while he disappointed on his next couple of appearances, he has since produced two very solid placed efforts at Newbury and Town Moor off 89.

It is obviously a quick turnaround for Wild Thoughts, but he proved earlier in the year that he is capable of backing up and he should go close under St Leger heroine Saffie Osborne.

Zarak Crown is of interest in the opening Almins Vantage/Lallemand Magniva Classic EBF Novice Stakes.

The son of Zarak was a €200,000 yearling purchase and made his competitive debut at Haydock a fortnight ago.

While Richard and Peter Fahey’s youngster was unable to lay a glove on the exciting winner Burning Up or the runner-up Hands To Yourself, he was beaten just a head for third, offering plenty of promise for the future.

He proved that day he handles cut in the ground and should be a good bit sharper for the experience.

Jim Goldie rarely leaves Ayr without a winner and he will have high hopes for Krissy in the British Stallion Studs Scottish Premier Series EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

The front-running mare failed to fire on her most recent visit to this venue in July, but the ground was quick that day and she is better judged on her last run when beaten a short head at Hamilton.

She steps up from 1800m to 2000m but has won over 2400m in the past and will take some pegging back if in the mood.

Pontefract punters are advised to put their faith in Brian Ellison’s Sea Lantern, who was a winner in Ireland for his previous connections and caught the eye making late headway on his stable debut here in the spring behind Infraad, who is now rated 106.

Sea Lantern moves into the handicap sphere with an opening rating of 85, which could prove lenient if he is fully fired up after a break. – Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

AYR: Race 1: 14.30 Zarak Crown, Race 2: 15.00 Great Profit, Race 3: 15.30 Krissy, Race 4: 16.00 Wild Thoughts, Race 5: 16.30 Sanafi Zabeel, Race 6: 17.00 Green Pursuit, Race 7: 17.30 Ice Cube, Race 8: 18.01 Spirit Of Acklam.

YARMOUTH: Race 1: 15.15 WHISKEY GALORE (NAP), Race 2: 15.45 Wykehurst Park, Race 3: 16.15 Easy Answer, Race 4: 16.45 Ray Mon Dough, Race 5: 17.15 Zachary Hickes, Race 6: 17.45 Split Elevens, Race 7: 18.15 Mountain Of Light.

PONTEFRACT: Race 1: 15.08 Good Karma, Race 2: 15.38 Ashina, Race 3: 16.08 Sea Lantern, Race 4: 16.38 River Nile, Race 5: 17.08 Perfect Part, Race 6: 17.38 Port George, Race 7: 18.08 Dubai Venture.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 17.20 Crowned, Race 2: 17.50 Willolarupi, Race 3: 18.25 Level Look, Race 4: 19.00 Bullrider, Race 5: 19.30 Don’t Stop Movin, Race 6: 20.00 Roi De Coeur, Race 7: 20.30 Dolo’s Star, Race 8: 21.00 One For Harvey, Race 9: 21.30 Golspie.

ALL TO COME: Whiskey Galore and Easy Answer (Yarmouth, Races 1 and 3).