THURSDAY Free Horseracing Tips:

Carl Harris is ill soThe Professor steps in with free horseracing tips for Thursday. By Chris Wilson, Press Association Sport

Dettori can Pounce on Thursday

It is difficult to look beyond Hacienda (4:05 Beverley) for top honours at Beverley on Thursday. The Mark Johnston-trained colt turned in one of the most visually impressive displays of Wolverhampton’s winter season, and should be followed with interest in the Racing UK Stakes.

Unraced as a two-year-old, Johnston’s son of Kheleyf clinically dismantled a decent field by seven lengths in February to suggest a mile will comfortably be on his radar in the fulness of time.

Although the form has so far not worked out from that Wolverhampton cakewalk, history should tell us that his closest rivals that day were certainly no slouches.

The inevitable penalty will not make life easy, but he looks a class above. The fact Frankie Dettori rides – his only mount on the Westwood – further underscores Hacienda’s rock-solid claims.

Richard Guest has enjoyed a fair start to the season and can strike again with Micky’s Knock Off, who looks a warm order for the Beverley Minster Claiming Stakes. The three-year-old Camacho gelding is something of a rogue, but shaped with a modicum of promise when second at Kempton last time. That form alone puts him in the shake-up for this five-furlong sprint.

Flouncing can make amends for a surprise Folkestone reverse in the ladbrokes.com Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Southwell. William Haggas’ filly was turned over at skimpy odds on her last start, but was too keen for her own good that day and failed to settle. She is blessed with plenty of ability, however, and is getting a nice slab of weight from the colts in this seven-furlong examination. The Barathea filly should be given one more chance.

Flores Sea, three times a course winner, rarely runs a bad race in Nottinghamshire and gets the nod for the Play Poker At ladbrokes.com Handicap. There was plenty to admire about his third at Redcar, where he was doing his best work at the finish.

Backstage can sign off the season in style at Perth. Gordon Elliott’s hardy stayer was travelling with much promise in the Grand National before unseating his rider late on. The eight-year-old must have returned unscathed from his Liverpool exertions and really ought to be winning the getyourbetson@stanjames.com Festival Chase in the manner of a very stylish horse.

Count Boris can end a maddening sequence of results in the Fuller’s London Pride Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell. Jim Best’s nine-year-old has finished either second or third on five starts since his return from injury and is surely long overdue a victory. Although an extra 5lb on his back will obviously not help his cause, this three-mile-three-furlong trip could put him back on the straight and narrow.

Bid Art was also last year struck by a mild case of seconditis but can set the record straight on his return to the track in the 3663 First For Food Service Handicap Chase. The improving five-year-old will be unfortunate to bump into an animal of the calibre of Star Galaxy, who has won four races since defeating Jamie Snowden’s gelding at Hereford last November.

Gilsland can redress the balance following a recent setback by landing the Cheese Warehouse Supports Children’s Adventure Farm Trust Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter.

Through The Cards….

BEVERLEY: 2.00 Micky’s Knock Off, 2.30 Deauville Flyer, 3.00 Bin Shamardal, 3.30 Christmas Coming, 4.05 HACIENDA (NAP), 4.40 Tia Juana, 5.15 Chichen Daawe.

FONTWELL: 2.20 Shoegazer, 2.50 City Heights, 3.20 Astrolibra, 3.55 Shaka’s Pearl, 4.30 Count Boris, 5.05 Bid Art, 5.40 Madame Jasmine

PERTH: 2.10 Ten Pole Tudor, 2.40 Run To Space, 3.10 Dix Villez, 3.45 Backstage, 4.20 De Boitron, 4.55 Lead On.

PUNCHESTOWN: 3.40 Ainama, 4.15 Lilywhitedancer, 4.50 LAmi, 5.30 Karabak, 6.05 Clear Riposte, 6.40 Captain Cee Bee, 7.15 Bishopsfurze.

SOUTHWELL: 5.25 Flouncing, 5.55 Captain Bluebird, 6.25 Flores Sea, 6.55 Group Leader, 7.25 Just Five, 7.55 Securitisation.

UTTOXETER: 5.35 Regain Du Charbonneau, 6.05 Master Fong, 6.35 Gilsland, 7.05 Rosie All Over, 7.35 Kikos, 8.05 Cruising Bye.