Horse Racing tips: Le Lion d’Angers four best bets for Thursday

3.55pm- Great Tonio @ 5/1

Race two on the card is a Class 3 Handicap over 12 Furlongs with most horses returning from a layoff. Great Tonio was 4th when last seen at Pornichet, and has managed to win on two previous occasions here. This is the first of two rides for one of the top jockeys Arnaud Bourgeais, who has an 11% win strike rate. He’s also ridden Eptante who had Grade 1 success at Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle earlier this year, so this horse looks capable of another big performance.

5.25pm – Craftwelle @ 14/1

This is a point to point style contest for 6-year-olds and older over 2 miles 7 furlongs. Like most of the field, these are all coming back from a layoff. Craftwelle hasn’t seen a race track in over seven months, but when was last seen managed to place and won prior to that. Has also placed on soft ground in the past so if the money is down this horse is not without claims.

MORE TIPS:

• Horse Racing tips: The trainers, jockeys and horses to follow at Deauville on Thursday

6pm – Queen Kahlua @ 11/4

This is a maiden event for 3-year-olds. There are a couple of debutants in this race worth keeping an eye on but Queen Kahlua, who had four races as a 2-year-old, gets the nod. Resuming from an eight-month break, she had one previous race here, finishing second. Has had four career runs, second on three occasions and third on the other. Highly-rated and looks a definite hope to claim maiden success.

7.05pm – Funky De La Barre @ 11/2

Steeplechase action here for 4-year olds with a winner’s purse of 9,000 euro. This could be a two-horse race with Geny Des Airs and Funky De La Barre both winners last time out, but the selection goes to the latter. Funky De La Barre won on his first start at Paray Le Monial when last seen on March 1 and had a 4-pound claimer in the saddle that day.

Has the assistance of one of the top jockeys in Felix De Giles in the saddle for this, who boasts a 13% win strike rate and has ridden a winner in the past few days, so open to plenty of improvement.

Le Lion d’Angers Tipping Summary:

3.55pm- Great Tonio @ 5/1

5.25pm – Craftwelle @ 14/1

6pm – Queen Kahlua @ 11/4

7.05pm – Funky De La Barre @ 11/2

Recommended Reading:

• Ruby Walsh: Jockeys were an easy target after 2006 Galway incident – it was insulting
• Ruby Walsh: Don’t hold your breath on International runners when Irish racing resumes in June

* All odds correct at time of posting and are subject to change.