Dave Nevison top tips: my best bets for Thursday's racing

Dave Nevison reckons he's cracked the Jump Jockeys Derby at Epsom on Thursday and has two selections for day one of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

1.15 Doncaster: Rambuso Creek

The Kevin Ryan-trained four-year-old has struggled for consistent form of late and a few short breaks during this season suggest he may have had minor issues. However, his past two runs, particularly last time out when fourth at Pontefract, suggest Rambuso Creek is poised to strike.

He was drawn on the wide outside that day and, having tucked in, found himself denied a run when it mattered most. That race looked a strong event for the grade and being dropped 2lb for that effort looks a gift.

Billy Loughnane is booked here and that must be significant in an apprentices’ handicap. A draw in stall 9 shouldn’t be an inconvenience as Rambuso Creek is a hold-up horse. Hopefully, his passage will not be blocked on the wide open spaces of Town Moor.

3.25 Epsom: The Whipmaster

The record of Gary Moore’s five-year-old tells us he is a happy horse on tricky and downland tracks.

The Whipmaster finished a good second over 1m 2f on his first run at Epsom and he was narrowly beaten on his latest start at Windsor in a better grade race than this.

He is dropped back to 0-85 grade and won when last in this level, so this is clearly his grade. I have absolutely no fears about Jamie Moore riding on the Flat in what is the Jump Jockeys Derby.

4.45 Doncaster: Harappan

Harrapan takes a step up in grade in every respect here but it looks a strong move by Iain Jardine.

He is unbeaten in two races since joining the yard and was impressive last time at Catterick, when winning by 2½ lengths but looking way more superior.

Harrapan looked a size bigger than his rivals in that race and there seems little doubt he will be much better suited by a galloping expansive track such as this and he could show significant improvement. The trip is obviously fine and only if the ground gets very deep would I get concerned about this dirt-bred gelding.