Thursday's racing bulletin

The Five Live selection is Big Bone in the 1600 at Stratford (all times BST).

Thursday's racing comes from Stratford-upon-Avon, Taunton and Lingfield.

There was 5mm of rain at Stratford overnight but the ground is unchanged at soft.

Smart novice hurdler Bourbon Manhattan makes his debut over steeple chase fences in the 1530.

Alan King's horse has been schooling well at home and should have the class to beat his seven opponents easily.

Best bet of the day is Big Bone in the 1600. The horse was given three educational runs in National Hunt flat races last season which culminated in a gutsy win at Newcastle.

The horse has since changed stables and has his first run for Phillip Hobbs. Hobbs has a good record with horses from other stables and this horse is expected to make his hurdling debut a winning one.

The west country seems to have been hit harder by the weather and Taunton had 16mm of rain overnight.

The ground has eased slightly and is now good with good-to-firm patches.

Kingston Town in the 1410 looked a horse with a big future when coming through a field of novices at Chepstow eight days ago, and he looks to have found an easy opportunity to follow up.

Supreme Lover in the 1510 has a good reputation and could run well on his racecourse debut.

The ground is standard at Lingfield where Khabfair should follow up his Ascot victory in the 1620.

Ouija Board set for fillies' race

Meanwhile, Kieren Fallon, the jockey on board Ouija Board at Saturday's Breeders' Cup meeting, was delighted to learn that his mount had been given a favourable draw coming from stall two.

The track at Lone Star Park in Texas is a sharp left-handed oval that benefits horses drawn low.