Newsboy’s ITV4 selections from Chester and Southwell, plus tips from the rest of Thursday’s five meetings

HAMISH is rightly a warm order to defend his title in the Group 3 tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes (3.15) at Chester on Thursday afternoon.

Twelve months ago, William Haggas’s seven-year-old marked his return to action with a three-quarter-length margin from Thunderous in the race honouring the Triple Crown hero of 1886.

Tom Marquand’s mount, who carried a Group 3 penalty to victory in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot, is the best horse in the race on official figures, operates on rain-softened ground and goes well on the back of a break.

What’s not to like?

Hamish wins The Peroni Nastro Azzurro Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot and is fancied to win at Chester on Thursday (REX)

It’s hard to be certain what PASSENGER achieved when landing the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting last month – none of the eight to take part had run before – but the Sir Michael Stoute-saddled son of Ulysses created a stirring impression and gets the vote for the Listed Boodles Dee Stakes (2.40).

On the back of a wide-margin reappearance success at Beverley last month, VETIVIER has plenty going for him in the Deepbridge Capital Handicap (2.05).

Vetivier will begin his challenge from stall two, and the same berth is a benefit to LIHOU, who bids to score from 2lb out of the weights in the the five-furlong CAA Stellar Handicap (1.30).

The TMT Group Handicap (3.45) looks wide open, but TUDOR has proved a model of consistency in the sphere and another good account is on the cards.

Also before the ITV4 cameras, Hollie Doyle and A TASTE OF HONEY are expected to prove a potent combination in the opening Unibet Horserace Operator Of The Year Handicap (1.50).

NEWSBOY'S SELECTIONS

CHESTER
1.30 LIHOU
2.05 VETIVIER (NB)
2.40 PASSENGER
3.15 HAMISH (NAP)
3.45 TUDOR
4.20 INVINCIBLE FRIEND
4.55 CANTORA

HUNTINGDON
1.40 A DEFINITE GETAWAY
2.15 CHOIRMASTER
2.50 VIVA LAVILLA
3.25 GAIA VALLIS
4.00 DENABLE
4.30 DOYENS DE ANTE
5.05 BROOMHILL ROAD

SOUTHWELL
1.50 A TASTE OF HONEY
2.25 OKAMI
3.00 CRUISE
3.35 GINNY JO
4.10 BLAZING SON
4.40 NA SCOITEAR
5.13 GRANDFATHER TOM
5.43 TIO MIO

THIRSK
5.35 OH SO CHARMING
6.10 JACK OF CLUBS
6.40 HAPPIER
7.10 TURBULENT POWER
7.40 INDIAN CREEK
8.10 HALE END
8.45 EY UP ITS JAZZ

CHELMSFORD
6.00 BILLIAN
6.30 FISCAL POLICY
7.00 SUGAR HILL
7.30 MANAADHIL
8.00 SIR RAJ
8.30 KENTUCKY KINGDOM
9.00 EGOISTE

DOUBLE: HAMISH and VETIVIER