The weather is beginning to brighten up, giving hope that the racing across Great Britain & Ireland in the coming days will continue without postponements. Thursday’s racing currently contains four cards going to post, with jumps and all-weather action to enjoy.
GG tipster Joe Napier picks out our Lucky 15 best bets for the two British jumps meetings on Thursday afternoon, with a pair of tips each from Ffos Las & Taunton.
Ffos Las Racing Tips (Thursday 8 January 2026)
A pair of class 3 handicaps are the features at Ffos Las on Thursday, with one of our Lucky 15 tips running in those contests at the Welsh venue.
12.40 Ffos Las – Bossman Jack (1pt win – 4/5)
The two previous winners in this novices’ hurdle are interesting in their own right, with the well-regarded Starzand and 300/1 Exeter scorer Blowers worth watching. However, they may struggle to concede 7lb winners’ penalties to Bossman Jack, who can step forward into the winners enclosure himself for Dan Skelton. The six-year-old won his only bumper despite greenness this time last year before making his hurdles debut after 308 days off at Warwick in November. He proved to be up against two very useful rivals though in the high class bumper winner Baron Noir, who has won since finishing second in that race, and Cristal d’Estruval, who won by 38 lengths on his next start. The selection was only seven lengths in arrears at Warwick, so should have every chance of winning a race against less capable rivals and Harry Skelton rides him for the first time, further increasing his hopes.
2.40 Ffos Las – Itseemslikeit (1pt win – 11/10)
Hunter Legend is up to winning a race of this level, but with Venetia Williams’ yard in worrying form, Itseemslikeit can confirm the promise of his recent victory at Uttoxeter. He won a maiden hurdle at this track on soft ground back in November 2023, but struggled afterwards in three races. It has taken two sets of wind surgery to iron out any problems, but they seem to have done the trick, as David Pipe’s charge scored by seven lengths despite idling hugely in the closing stages, making a mess of the final two fences, but having loads in hand. The runner-up went much closer on his next start too, so a 7lb rise can be defied here, with most of his opposition here having lots to prove on recent form.
Taunton Racing Tips (Thursday 8 January 2026)
Another of our Lucky 15 tips runs in the feature at Taunton, also a class 3 handicap, with our selection in the race being a former winner at Cheltenham.
2.00 Taunton – Crest Of Stars (1pt win – 3/1)
The four-year-old Pourquoi Pas Papa ran well enough at Sandown on his debut for Paul Nicholls, but that form has taken some knocks since, so it may be worth siding with the year-older Crest Of Stars for Anthony Honeyball. A bumper winner at Newton Abbot in October, that effort was a step up on two runs last season and he then finished third on his hurdles debut at Plumpton when failing to get to grips with hurdling. That he still finished third and remained in contention until the final two flights suggests he would only have to discover a half-decent hurdling technique to land a maiden hurdle at some point and his extra racing experience could also come in handy here.
3.00 Taunton – American Sniper (1pt win – 9/2)
His second over course and distance last time out was a move back in the right direction for American Sniper, who can be another winner for the Pipe yard on Thursday. The eight-year-old has regularly needed two runs before getting fit, so it was no surprise to see an improved effort here last time off 1lb lower, when he may have gone even closer but for blundering at the penultimate hurdle. He is 5lb better off with the winner, Celtic Art, for that day and Rian Corcoran is re-employed to take a further 7lb off his handicap mark with what is proving to be a useful claim. He is still young enough to rediscover his best form, which saw him win at Cheltenham off 1lb higher than this in November 2023.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Thursday 8 January
12.40 Ffos Las – Bossman Jack (1pt win – 4/5)
2.00 Taunton – Crest Of Stars (1pt win – 3/1)
2.40 Ffos Las – Itseemslikeit (1pt win – 11/10)
3.00 Taunton – American Sniper (1pt win – 9/2)
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Thursday 8 January
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Ffos Las – first race 12:40
- Taunton – first race 13:00
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Thursday 8 January, which include selections at Ffos Las & Taunton.
Which racecourses run on Thursday 8 January 2026?
Chelmsford, Clonmel, Ffos Las & Taunton.
When were Sunday’s Lucky 15 tips for Ffos Las & Taunton published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Thursday 8 January were published at 4pm on Wednesday 7 January.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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