ITV Thursday Cheltenham and Newmarket Preview

The first race on ITV is the bet365 Handicap over six furlongs and Eve Johnson Houghton looks to have a very smart prospect in Jumby.

The three year old colt cost 45,000gns as a yearling and in his three starts to date has shown enough ability to warrant having a punt on today on his first try at this trip.

The son of New Bay won on debut back in July at Ascot on good ground over seven furlongs, seeing off the highly talented New Mandate.

He then backed that up at Newbury when third in a Listed event over seven furlongs, running well in behind two smart types.

The colt was last seen in September stepped up to a mile at Newbury and he looked more to be a horse of pace than stamina when fading into third.

Tried at 6f for the first time today could bring improvement and having shown he goes well fresh last term he looks to have a good chance.

Her Indoors looks to have a great chance in the Grade Three Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for Alan King, who could have a decent day.

The four year old filly was a decent flat horse last season and this term has been sent over hurdles by the master dual trainer and has shown some smart ability.

She made her debut in December at Aintree in a Listed Juvenile Hurdle and finished a good second behind Talking About You.

The daughter of Raven's Pass then went to Kempton over two miles and was another good second behind Heross Du Seuil, who looks to be a nice type for Nicky Henderson.

She finally got off the mark at the third time of asking at Doncaster in a Listed Juvenile Hurdle, reversing the form with Talking About You.

The filly was pitched in the Boodles at the festival last time out and was slightly outclassed by a few of them finishing mid-field, but the form of that race has worked out well and now 1lb lower she has a big chance.

One of the feature events of the day at Cheltenham is the Listed Mares' Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f and Bourbon Beauty for Alex Hales is looking to back her big race success last time out.

The six year old mare has been seen five times this season and has progressed a huge amount to now be a Grade Two winner, having struggled in novice company at the start of the term.

Having needed the run on seasonal debut she then went to Warwick and finished a good second behind The Glancing Queen, with the form of that race working out well.

She also franked the form when getting off the mark next time out at Kelso just getting the better of Wild Polly in a cracker.

The mare went back to Warwick two starts ago and was a long way third behind two nice types, but bounced back to form massively last time out when giving a career best performance to land the Grade Two Mares' Hurdle at Newbury.

Bourbon Beauty has gone up 8lb but looks to be highly progressive and could just steal the race again from the front.

With no bet in the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes ou next selection from Newmarket comes in the Group Three Abernant Stakes where we like the look of a big priced fancy.

Shine So Bright for Andrew Balding is a consistent front runner that has put together a spring of seconds of late that put him in the frame for this, dropping back down in trip.

The quicker the ground the better for this horse having shown he can cut it at the top level in the past having won the Group Two City Of York Stakes back in 2019 on good to firm ground.

Last time out he was seen going down by a head in a Handicap at Lingfield in March and he might just have the fitness edge on some of these.

The feature race of the day is the Group Three Craven Stakes and our selection in the mile event is the Godolphin owned Master Of The Seas.

The three year old has been seen three times during his career, making his debut in June at Newmarket over seven furlongs and getting off the mark in good style.

He then went into the Group Two Superlative Stakes over the same course and distance and beat a smart field by three lengths.

Trying to keep his unbeaten juvenile record he went to the Curragh for the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and finished a stellar fourth behind the best of the Irish, that have all since franked the form in the Dewhurst Stakes.

The colt was last seen at Meydan in February having his first run of the season in a Listed event over a mile and he finished a good second behind stablemate Naval Crown.

He will come on a bunch for that run and having handled this track in the past he looks sure to run a big race, with the trainer also landing this race in 2018.