Rhys Williams' Daily Horse Racing Tips: 3 Selections For Thursday
The Panel are delighted to have Rhys Williams as part of our team of racing tipsters.
Rhys has been a racing analyst for over 10 years, working for At The Races and most recently as a tipster for Betfair where his tipping column had a 31% ROI over four and a half years.
He often focuses away from the front end of the market, finding angles that aren't evident to most.
His profit and loss record for 2026 stands at -16 points.
Here are Rhys' tips for Thursday, using the most up-to-date odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
13:33 Wincanton: Coolanna - 1pt Win @ 15/8
Strong Run and Coolanna dominate the market in the opening mares’ novices’ hurdle and I think they should be closer together given today’s conditions.
Coolanna looked to relish the very testing ground when winning on her rules debut at Uttoxeter.
Despite not always jumping too well, she went to the front at three out and gradually pulled clear of her rivals to win by eight lengths.
She faces similarly testing conditions today and hopefully her jumping will be sharper for the experience that she gained at Uttoxeter.
While I think Strong Run may have more ability than Coolanna, I’m not sure these circumstances will allow her to show her full ability.
She went a bit keenly at Southwell last time and she didn’t strike me as the type to be at her best in heavy ground.
Given the potential for Strong Run to not be able to run up to her best, I think there’s too much between the front pair in market and any 6/4 or bigger appeals about Coolanna making it two from two under rules.
Rhys' Selection 1: 13:33 Wincanton - Coolanna - 1pt Win
14:03 Wincanton: Italian Spirit - 1pt Win @ 40/1
Italian Spirit is the clear outsider of the field on his chasing debut but I think he could be more of a threat to his rivals than the market suggests.
He’s clearly had plenty of problems in his career as the 10-year-old has only run 10 times but he’s shown some promise on both starts for Harriet Dickin after long absences.
He finished third behind a smart horse in Resplendent Grey on stable debut at Uttoxeter at the start of last season when returning from 783 days off the track.
Italian Spirit was off the track for another 575 days before returning at Leicester where he shaped better than the margin beaten suggests.
He had to be shaken along at times but was back travelling well in behind rivals going to three out.
Angled towards the middle of the track, he made a little headway before the effort flattened out late on.
That race has worked out well with the winner adding another victory since while the second and third finished first and second on their next starts and the seventh has finished second on both starts since.
There is the unknown over how Italian Spirit will take to jumping fences and given his fragile nature he may not be capable of building on those runs but I thought a 5lb drop for Leicester was generous and the application of cheekpieces could see him travel smoother through the race.
Any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 2: 14:03 Wincanton - Italian Spirit - 1pt Win
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14:20 Lingfield: Resilient Lady - 0.5pt Win @ 28/1
Resilient Lady shaped with some promise on her return from a break last time and I think her big price underestimates the chance of her building on that today.
She was a bit awkwardly away from the stalls last time and raced towards the back of the field.
She was travelling well approaching the final bend and was hampered a little as Blue Empress edged out into her path which caused Resilient Lady to run wide and her jockey to ease her around the bend.
Once into the home straight, she wasn’t given a particularly hard time but made some late headway to finish sixth.
I think that was quite a strong race for the level and this looks an easier assignment.
The step back up in trip to a mile should help her cause this afternoon and while there are concerns that she might be better on a right-handed track, I think she’s too big in a race of this quality.
Any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 3: 14:20 Lingfield - Resilient Lady - 0.5pt Win
All odds correct at time of publish.
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