Today's Horse Racing Tips: Back this duo at Thirsk on Sunday

With a winning distance of a neck, it wasn’t quite a photo finish, but it was another agonising second for me at Goodwood yesterday. Urban Artist (2 point win bet advised at 15/2) would have been a big winner and the mare looked to have done enough. However, she was collared inside the final few yards to leave me shaking my head in disbelief. There are such fine margins between winning and losing!

Further disappointment was to follow when one of my fancies for the Stewards’ Cup, Ejtilaab (advised at 11/1), was backed off the boards to be sent off as the 5/1 favourite. Unfortunately, he was pulled up early in the race leaving me fearing the worst. Luckily, his trainer later reported him to be ok.

There are two bets for today’s racing at Thirsk.

Thirsk Tips

15:25 – 7f William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap (Class 3)

Kevin Stott has ridden eight winners at a 24% strike rate in the past fortnight and his booking aboard CANDESCENCE (NAP - 1 point win bet at 7/1) could be enough to end a sequence of three consecutive second place finishes and record a second career victory. A winner at Pontefract on her racecourse debut, she has since made the frame in five of her six subsequent starts. Although she appears to stay a mile, this seven-furlong trip seems to be her optimum and the drying ground at Thirsk will be in her favour. This race represents a step up in class, but as a result she will receive weight from all but one of today’s rivals. The 6lb weight for age allowance is a further advantage and breaking from stall 8 will allow Stott to take up a decent position just off the pace. Cassy O, a course and distance winner in June, is the biggest danger.

15:57 – 1m William Hill Summer Cup Handicap (Class 3)

There is a chance that Ben Curtis will be able to dictate matters from the front aboard HEADINGLEY (1 point win bet at 7/1) and if that is the case, the pair could be hard to peg back. Cheekpieces are retained and they should help him to settle. Mark Johnston’s three-year-old benefitted from the drop in class to win convincingly at Chelmsford last time out. He is equally effective on turf though and still seems fairly handicapped on his best form. As the only three-year-old in the race, he will have the advantage of a 7lb weight-for-age allowance. Itkaann is next best ahead of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Satono Japan.