Newsboy's horseracing tips for Thursday's four meetings, including Newbury Nap

WAR HOWL looks well worth another try at a mile as he seeks a hat-trick in the Venture Security Handicap (6.25) at Newbury on Thursday.

The son of Bated Breath missed the target in his first seven attempts, of which the first five were for Brian Meehan before a switch to Mick Appleby.

But War Howl made it third time lucky for his new connections when carrying The Horse Watchers’ silks to victory in a seven-furlong handicap at Doncaster at the end of June.

That maiden success came from a British Horseracing Authority mark of 71 and War Howl was 6lb higher when arriving late on the scene to beat Stratocracy by a neck over the same trip at Ascot on the first day of the King George fixture on July 25.

There’s a further 3lb rise in the weights to deal with here but War Howl is thriving and it will be a surprise if Kevin Stott’s mount doesn’t have more to give.

The return to a mile asks a different question but the way he finishes off over seven suggests War Howl will have the staying power to cope.

In Newbury’s finale, the Highclere Castle Gin Handicap (7.30), MASTERINTHEWOODS makes plenty of appeal after getting off the mark at Haydock Park 19 days ago.

THURSDAY'S SELECTIONS

SOUTHWELL
5.45 CRIMINAL
6.15 NOODLE MISSION
6.45 SOVEREIGN KNIGHT
7.15 ZEALANDIA
7.45 JIMMY SPEAKING
8.15 LIBERTY COACH
8.45 NORTHERN SPIRIT

CHELMSFORD CITY
2.20 PRINCESS BILLYBOY
2.50 ARCHER ROYAL
3.20 DOLLYANA
3.50 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
4.20 ESTMRAR
4.55 MUHIB

FFOS LAS
2.10 ART LOVER
2.40 BORN SLIPPY
3.10 RED WALLS
3.40 KLASSLEADER
4.10 MEET ME IN MERAKI
4.40 SOPHAR SOGOOD

NEWBURY
4.15 BLACK ENDEAVOUR
4.48 LEONE ALATO
5.20 TAROT
5.55 KHAFAR
6.25 WAR HOWL (NAP)
7.00 GOLDEN REDEMPTION
7.30 MASTERINTHEWOODS (NB)

DOUBLE: WAR HOWL and MASTERINTHEWOODS

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