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Horse racing tips: Newmarket, Thirsk and Cork – Friday August 16
Today’s horse racing tips come from Newmarket, Thirsk and Cork. See our expert’s nap of the day, next best and other selections
![Horse racing tips: Newmarket, Thirsk and Cork – Friday August 16](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/betting/better-collective-new/friday-racing-compliant-brown.jpg?imwidth=680)
There are seven race meetings across the UK and Ireland on Friday, six Flat and one National Hunt.
Epsom (1.40-4.35pm), the all-weather card at Wolverhampton (1.50-4.45) and Newbury (2.05-4.55) provide the afternoon fare, with Cork (4.15-8.07), Thirsk (4.58-8.15) and Newmarket (5.15-8.00) in the evening along with jumps action from Tramore (5.00-8.20).
Among our Friday fancies is one for trainer Charlie Johnston whose course record at Newmarket cannot be ignored.
Horse racing tips today – Newmarket, Thirsk and Cork
Jake Aldrich’s picks for Friday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
- Nap: Dutch Decoy (Newmarket 6.50) @ 4/1 with BetMGM
- Next best: Olympus Point (Thirsk 4.58) @ 7/4 with BetMGM
- Other: Shamida (Cork 6.22) @ 4/1 with BetMGM
Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.
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Horse racing tips: Newmarket 6.50
A veteran of 67 races, DUTCH DECOY has yet to find his form of last season when he won over course and distance and finished a credible sixth in the Cambridgeshire.
His efforts this season have been mostly middling but some solid efforts in the past month – third over track and trip, second at Goodwood and fourth at Chepstow – offer cause for optimism.
He was unlucky last time out, when he was installed as favourite only for a course ‘invasion’ by some sheep to delay the start and heavy rain to soften the track.
Jockey Joe Fanning held him up in the rear that day, tactics that proved ineffective but may work better in drier conditions as he looks to make headway in the closing stages.
Newmarket can be considered his favourite track: he has three wins from four over the July Course and things look to be finally clicking for him so another good performance is surely on the cards.
Selection: Dutch Decoy @ 4/1 with BetMGM
Horse racing tips: Thirsk 4.58
Because of his excellent pedigree, great things were expected when OLYMPUS POINT hit the track for the first time last month at Haydock (7f, good).
A half-brother to the excellent Blue Point, his racecourse debut went reasonably. He raced towards the front and kept on well in the closing stages but found his more experienced stablemate Cavallo Bay just a bit too good for him.
However, he followed that with a rather disappointing effort over the same course and distance, positioning himself well but finishing nothing in the closing stages and having to settle for third.
Sometimes it takes a while for juveniles to find their feet so he cannot be dismissed just yet and now with a bit of experience behind him it could be third time lucky for Olympus Point.
Selection: Olympus Point @ 7/4 with BetMGM
Horse racing tips: Cork 6.22
SHAMIDA made her belated seasonal reappearance in the Group 2 Curragh Cup last month having not been seen since September.
She ran reasonably well and looked to be making a challenge for the lead but faded in the closing stages. After such a lengthy lay-off it would be understandable if she needed the run.
She has some experience in some big races, including the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp, but this seems more her level, having won Group 3s last season at the Curragh and at Leopardstown.
The drop in trip from 1m 6f to 1m 4f is interesting and she will need to show that she has the pace to contest such a race. She must also give 9lb to her younger rivals but she appears to be the class horse in this race and, with a run under her belt, she should go well.
Selection: Shamida @ 4/1 with BetMGM
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