Mark Walsh has first rides since the Gold Cup while Candlish mare bids to continue winning streak - Thursday punting pointers

Punting pointers for Thursday's meetings . . .

Chepstow: a bumper to note

Just two years ago the 2m bumper (5.45) at Chepstow proved a vintage running, with Gidleigh Park holding off The Jukebox Man, and Thursday's race is packed with promising types.

The eye is drawn to Hurricane Pat, who finished third in a good race at Sandown last month, but Paul Nicholls also has a strong candidate in €130,000 sales buy Calvino.

There is also representation for the Kelvin-Hugheses silks in Three Pikes, a close relation to the hugely talented My Drogo. He bids to give trainer Tom George a seventh success this campaign and pass last season's tally.

Chepstow: Harriet Dickin

The trainer has a 40 per cent strike-rate in handicap hurdles at the track this season. She has two chances – Robins Field (2.20) and Lake's Aventurine (4.40).

Robins Field14:20 Chepstow

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Jky: Callum Pritchard Tnr: Harriet Dickin

Lake's Aventurine16:40 Chepstow

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Jky: James Best Tnr: Harriet Dickin

Cork: Mark Walsh has first rides after Gold Cup glory

Mark Walsh enjoyed a Cheltenham Festival to remember last week and he takes up his first rides since then as he bids to continue his purple patch.

Walsh, the retained rider for JP McManus in Ireland, had four winners at jump racing's showpiece, including Grade 1 highlights on impressive Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File and, most importantly, when Inothewayurthinkin downed Galopin Des Champs' bid for a Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick.

Six days on, Walsh is back in the saddle with two mounts on the card, both of which come for McManus. His best chance could be on Carried With Love in the 2m½f maiden hurdle (1.52) for Joseph O'Brien, who he teamed up to win the Fred Winter on Puturhandstogether.

His other ride is on the veteran Sir Bob. The 13-year-old bids to roll back the years with victory in the 3m½f handicap hurdle (4.12).

Carried With Love13:52 Cork

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Jky: Mark Walsh Tnr: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Ludlow: Kap off a five-timer?

Demoiselle Kap has been a revelation since joining the Jennie Candlish yard and looks for a fifth consecutive success in the 2m handicap chase (5.05).

At the start of February she was rated 98 but notched up two wins in the space of eight days, then kept the good run going at Fontwell and Sedgefield last Tuesday.

Her latest win came off a mark of 109 and she has to compete with a 10lb rise, but her trainer is in great form with a 29 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight.

Demoiselle Kap17:05 Ludlow

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Jky: Jonjo O'Neill Jr Tnr: Jennie Candlish

Ludlow: Fred Timmis

You would have made a £1 level-stakes profit of £26.00 from backing the trainer's runners in hunter chases at Ludlow. He has Captain Tommy going in the finale (5.37).

Captain Tommy17:37 Ludlow

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Jky: Mr Huw Edwards (3lb)Tnr: Fred Timmis

Newcastle: Hart at happy hunting ground

Jason Hart has been one of the jockeys to follow at the track this year, and he bids to continue his fine 2025 there with three rides.

Hart is operating at a 25 per cent strike-rate at the course since the new year, with more than half of his mounts finishing in the first three, and a +£12.18 profit to a £1 level-stake.

His evening begins in the 1m2f handicap (5.30) on the Dianne Sayer-trained Simple Star, who was last seen disappointing at Musselburgh in August. He then has two rides for trainer Katie Scott on Tarlac in the 6f handicap (6.00) and Rockley Point, who was out of luck on his 150th career start last time, in the second division of the 6f classified contest (8.30).

Scott said: "Tarlac has his second start in the Ursa Major silks. He's down to a mark of 68 after his recent outing, which was actually a decent effort.

"Rockley Point was sent off at just 13-2 to win a classified event here last Monday – he does better when no-one fancies him! He had no room right from the word go and it just didn't work out for him so we'll go again."

Tarlac18:00 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Jason Hart Tnr: Katie Scott

Sedgefield: veteran rolling back the years

The Paddy Pie has rolled back the years of late and aims to notch a hat-trick of wins this year in the 2m5f handicap chase (4.20).

The 12-year-old, who is trained by Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith as well as owned by the latter, has not been showing signs of age catching up with him this year, with two hard-fought victories at Catterick and Newcastle under conditional jockey Jack Power.

Parkinson said after his Newcastle win that The Paddy Pie is "in the form of his life" and Power is back on board as they go for a three-timer. It would also be his fourth success from his last five starts.

He bids to also continue Power's fine record for Parkinson and Smith. The trio operate at a 40 per cent strike-rate (four wins from ten rides) when they team up together.