Trainer saddles first runner at Craven meeting and Shark Hanlon teams up with Bronsan Racing - Thursday's punting pointers

Punting pointers from some of today's race meetings . . .

Clonmel: No Knee Never a notable first for Hanlon

Shark Hanlon saddles his first runner for Bronsan Racing in the 2m1f maiden hurdle (6.00).

No Knee Never was a €170,000 breeze-up buy for the owners, who have enjoyed two Grade 1 wins with Solness this season.

The son of No Nay Never failed to win in six starts in maidens on the Flat for Joseph O’Brien – despite shaping with promise on a few occasions – and was well beaten on his handicap debut for Jack Davison at Dundalk in November.

No Knee Never was gelded after that below-par effort and has joined Hanlon to go hurdling. His six rivals include Autumn Twist and Raydamann, who arrive on the back of placed efforts in maiden hurdles.

No Knee Never18:00 Clonmel

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Jky: Paddy Hanlon (7lb)Tnr: John Joseph Hanlon

Ffos Las: Murphy runs impressive debut bumper winner

Olly Murphy runs smart debut winner Harbour Island in division one of the bumper (7.15).

The Diana and Grahame Whateley-owned six-year-old was impressive in beating stablemate Drayton Flyer, who races for the same owners, by two and a half lengths at Wetherby in December.

No winners have come out of the race but Harbour Island left a good impression and it will be interesting to see how he fares under a 7lb penalty.

Paul Nicholls saddles Wincanton runner-up Necronaut and Irish point-to-point winner Moon Over America has his first start for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Harbour Island19:15 Ffos Las

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Jky: Sean Bowen Tnr: Olly Murphy

Newmarket: new trainer Burdon starts off with Mesaafi

Ross Burdon is the latest addition to the training ranks in Newmarket and saddles his first runner on the final day of the Craven meeting.

Burdon is renting eight boxes at Simon Pearce’s Wroughton House Stables and runs Mesaafi in the 5f handicap (4.10).

Mesaafi, a 14,500gns purchase in November, was successful for Pearce over 6f at Newcastle in January and then beaten just a short head and a nose when a close third over the same trip at Kempton in February.

The four-year-old is unexposed on turf, having run just three times on the surface, including when third at Windsor last spring.

Mesaafi16:10 Newmarket

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Jky: Sean D Bowen Tnr: Ross Burdon

Newmarket stat: 67 per cent

Ed Walker’s strike-rate in three-year-old handicaps on the Rowley Mile in the last four seasons. He runs Happy Banner, who is the mount of Ryan Moore in the mile event (2.25).

Happy Banner14:25 Newmarket

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Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: Ed Walker

Ripon: race specialist Fortamour back for more

Ben Haslam’s sprinter Fortamour bids for a third victory in the last four runnings of the 6f handicap (3.42).

The nine-year-old scored by two and a quarter lengths off a mark of 80 in 2022, finished fourth when rated 82 in 2023 and scored by half a length off 75 last year.

Unlike previous seasons, Fortamour arrives without a previous run this year.

Fortamour has a 6-20 record at Ripon and has finished second or third on another six occasions. He was successful at the North Yorkshire track in August and makes his reappearance off a mark of 81.

Haslam said: “He's in good form. The only thing we could have done with was a bit of rain as we haven't had much of it up here compared with the south of Britain. He's a bit older now and likes to get his toe in a tad, but that's the only negative. We know he loves the track and hope he'll be competitive there again."

Fortamour is ridden by Paul Mulrennan, who has a 3-7 record on the handicapper.

Fortamour15:42 Ripon

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Jky: Paul Mulrennan Tnr: Ben Haslam

Ripon stat: 30 per cent

Harriet Bethell’s strike-rate (3-10) at Ripon, with eight of her runners finishing in the first four. She saddles course-and-distance winner On The River in the mile apprentice handicap (5.25).

On The River17:25 Ripon

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Jky: Warren Fentiman (3lb)Tnr: Harriet Bethell

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