Newsboy's Horse Racing Tips: Spirit Catcher Nap at Musselburgh on Thursday

Musselburgh hosts a Flat meeting on Thursday, and Newsboy's nap, Spirit Catcher, is fancied to win the 5.00. The Phil Kirby-trained son of New Bay looks worth a try over a mile and a half as he makes a quick return to action in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap.

Spirit Catcher's Form

Rated 94 at his peak in September 2023, Spirit Catcher had slipped to a British Horseracing Authority mark of 60 for his clash with six rivals over a mile and one furlong here two starts ago. He took full advantage, beating On The Bubble by a length and three-quarters, and was back in action over an additional furlong at Ripon on Sunday. My selection's bid for the follow-up failed by two and a half lengths as he took the silver medal behind the veteran Poet's Dawn, who made all the running. The way Spirit Catcher stayed on to the finish suggests the extra quarter mile here will prove within range, and Aidan Brookes's mount competes from the same mark.

Lion Of Mali at Haydock

At Haydock, LION OF MALI (3.30) makes plenty of appeal in the Team Effort Handicap. The James Fanshawe trainee has had a bountiful 2026 so far with victories from four outings, and a 2lb rise for a half-length score on turf at Leicester last time may not be enough to stop the winning run.

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