'He has clearly been mixing it with a much better class of opposition' - Graeme Rodway with his best bets for Thursday

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Tokay Dokey
3.15 Taunton
1pt win

Storm Catcher
7.00 Chelmsford
1pt win

Desert Order
8.00 Chelmsford
1pt win

Dan Skelton has become well known for winners at his local Warwick track and teams up with his brother Harry for five runners there. The trainer also has two others ridden by other jockeys. 

The brothers could easily have a winner and God’s Own Getaway, in particular, can go well in the 2m5f handicap hurdle (1.20).

However, the stable’s best chance of a winner might come away from Warwick because my strongest fancy is Tokay Dokey, who represents the Skelton yard in the 2m2f handicap chase (3.15) at Taunton. Fergus Gillard comes in for the mount and takes 3lb off.

Gillard has four winners, five seconds and four thirds from 31 rides for the yard and is getting more opportunities. He is quickly becoming a good alternative to the trainer’s brother in the saddle and is fancied to get the best from Tokay Dokey on his return from a 675-day absence.

The nine-year-old has had only four runs over fences, but made good progress on his first three outings. He improved his Racing Post Rating with each of those runs and was an easy 13-length winner of a 2m1f handicap chase at Market Rasen on soft going.

He went off 8-11 favourite next time at Carlisle, but made a bad mistake at the second-last fence and weakened badly afterwards to finish last of three. Maybe something went amiss.

He hasn’t been seen since and that last run was in February last year, so that would support the argument that not all was right for his latest defeat. He returns to the track off 4lb lower.

Tokay Dokey is still unexposed as a chaser and his top stable can be trusted to get him back on track this season. His fitness for this first run after a long absence isn’t a concern because he was declared twice in late November only not to run, so must be ready now two weeks on.

My other two selections come on an interesting card at Chelmsford and I’m keen to oppose the likely favourite, Penzance, in the 1m2f handicap (7.00).

He is 2lb well in under a penalty for his easy win over course and distance last week, but that wasn’t a strong contest and he hung violently left-handed when clear inside the final furlong.

This is a stiffer task against better opposition and Penzance might have his work cut out to beat Storm Catcher, who has three wins and a second from five runs over course and distance and simply loves Chelmsford. He also returns to his favourite track after an easy victory.

Storm Catcher was well placed to strike off a modest pace at Lingfield last month, but he took full advantage and quickened smartly to go clear inside the final furlong. Two of his last three furlongs produced quick sectional times and he has lots of speed, so sharp tests like this suit.

A 4lb rise in the weights means Storm Catcher has to defy a career-high mark of 94, but he is a better horse at this track than he is at Lingfield and there is every chance he can follow up.

The mile handicap (8.00) is the feature race on the card and this looks a good opportunity for Desert Order to rack up a hat-trick for Charlie Appleby.

The three-year-old was beaten only two and a half lengths by the Group performer Epictetus on his debut at Newmarket in July last year, then lost by a short-head to another class act in Arrest in a Sandown maiden next time. Desert Order made no mistake after.

He made all to land the traditionally strong Convivial Maiden at York’s Ebor meeting in August 2022, when he had 2,000 Guineas runner-up Hi Royal behind in third, and followed up with an easy victory on his handicap debut at Newmarket on his final start of the season.

Everything evidently hasn’t gone to plan with Desert Order since as he only now makes his seasonal reappearance, 432 days since his last run as a two-year-old, but he has clearly been mixing it with a much better class of opposition than he faces here and can outclass his rivals.

Read these next:

The Punt Acca: Liam Headd tipped two winners on Monday - who does he fancy at Taunton on Thursday? 

'He shaped as if he would relish the step up in trip' - Conor Fennelly with two selections at Naas 

Thursday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiples 

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