Count on Castle at Brighton

Castle In The Sand has shown enough encouraging signs to suggest he can break his duck at Brighton on Thursday.

Andrew Balding's juvenile made a promising debut when fourth to Devil's Point on soft going at Ffos Las, just slipping back from second in the closing stages.

He then probably found the ground too fast in a valuable York maiden but went back into many notebooks with a good second to odds-on favourite Zabriskie Point at Thirsk.

The homebred son of New Approach, out of well-related six-time scorer Crossing The Line, is rated a form pick in the Breeders' Cup On Sky Sports Racing EBF Restricted Novice Stakes and still has scope for more improvement.

Habrdi can also hit the target for the first time at the seaside track in the Docker Hughes Memorial EBF Restricted Novice Stakes, with Hollie Doyle on board.

The Calyx colt was well backed for his racecourse bow at Newmarket and ran with credit despite eventually coming home in fifth place, with a slow start forcing him to use up too much energy getting into a challenging position 400m out.

There were still clear signs of greenness when seventh at the same track next time out, following which Habrdi was switched from George Boughey to Jane Chapple-Hyam.

A tilt at a valuable sales race earlier this month always looked ambitious but this is a much better chance for him to confirm that early promise.

Almaty Star should relish switching back to an all-weather surface in Chelmsford's Illuminate Christmas Ball Handicap after just getting caught flat-footed at a key point when fourth on the turf at Leicester.

Roger Varian's three-year-old gelding had previously hacked up by five lengths in a Lingfield maiden and also has a nice neck second to Wallop at Kempton from April on his CV.

Lunar Space bids to complete a quick hat-trick for Jamie Osborne in the Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap and certainly had plenty in hand when prevailing here on Saturday, so a 2.5kg penalty may not stop him.

Lucinda Russell has her string in fine form and it is worth taking Snake Roll's fitness on trust in the Rhino.bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over the jumps at Carlisle.

The six-year-old ran in some hot novice hurdle races towards the end of last season following victories at Kelso and Newcastle and a solid third behind Nemean Lion was franked when that winner landed the Welsh Champion Hurdle on Sunday.

Easter Junction looked set to finish a good second to Wordsworth when well backed for his debut over obstacles at Bangor until unseating Brian Hughes at the second last and is taken to gain compensation in the Daily Charged Up Offers At Rhino.bet Novices' Hurdle.

At Wincanton, Anthony Honeyball looks to have a nice prospect on his hands with dual Fontwell hurdles winner Somespring Special, who can return to action with another success in the Challenger Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

CARLISLE: 1.20 White Rhino, 1.50 Snake Roll, 2.25 Easter Junction, 3.00 Supremely West, 3.35 Morning Spirit, 4.10 Enemy At The Gate, 4.45 Netywell, 5.20 Cracking Rhapsody.

WINCANTON: 1.30 Somespring Special, 2.00 Laser Focus, 2.35 Pleasant Man, 3.10 Striking A Pose, 3.45 Mamoon Star, 4.20 Top Cloud, 4.52 Bensini.

BRIGHTON: 1.35 Voodoo Ray, 2.10 Habrdi, 2.45 CASTLE IN THE SAND (NAP), 3.20 Chagall, 3.55 Chinthurst, 4.30 Optiva Star, 5.05 Pavlodar, 5.40 On Edge.

CHELMSFORD: 5.00 Whip Cracker, 5.30 Bluebells Boy, 6.00 Maid In Kentucky, 6.30 Shabs, 7.00 Almaty Star, 7.30 This Ones For Fred, 8.00 Katar, 8.30 Lunar Space.

ALL TO COME: Easter Junction (Carlisle Race 3) and Castle In The Sand (Brighton Race 3).