Paddy's Pick 5 for Thursday: another £10,000 is up for grabs

What a difference a race can make in Paddy's Pick 5. After the first four legs in Tuesday's competition, more than 1,000 players were still in contention coming to the final leg.

But only one player picked out the last winner, Real Steel (33/1), and as a consequence scooped the whole £10,000 on offer. On Wednesday, 39 players picked four of the five winners but nobody selected the lot.

There's another £10,000 on offer on Thursday. Here are the five races that need solving, and a few selections to ponder.

The market would suggest the top two have this between them, and it’s difficult to disagree. Queen’s Brook and Shewearsitwell are clear of the rest on ratings and a fair way clear on form, too. Of the pair, perhaps the latter might have the edge given this is likely to be a stamina test in the soft ground.

Willie Mullins’ mare was in action over the summer but produced her best effort for some time after a break on her return at Punchestown last month, just nosing home in a competitive handicap. That was over 3m, and this drop to 2m4f in the prevailing conditions will suit her down to the ground.

This is a cracking contest and a chance to see Irish Grand National third Gaillard Du Mesnil in action once again. He’s very experienced for a novice chaser and boasts obvious claims after finishing second to Mighty Potter in the Drinmore last time out.

He’ll be a tough nut to crack, but it could be worth siding with Grade One-winning hurdler Three Stripe Life. His pulled-up effort behind Gaillard Du Mesnil at Punchestown can be overlooked as Davy Russell’s saddle slipped that day, after an error, and his chance was gone thereafter. He remains a very exciting prospect judged on both his hurdling form and his victory on chasing debut, and the addition of a tongue-tie could be a good move too. He’s most certainly worth another chance.

All eyes will be on loveable veteran Sharjah here, who bids for a staggering fifth straight victory in this contest. There’s no doubt the conditions of the race are his bread and butter, and you can be sure – despite his advancing years – that he will give it his very best shot.

He warmed up nicely for this behind State Man in the Morgiana, but unfortunately he could well be left watching the same black and yellow silks powering away from him once again. State Man has looked every inch a superstar in the making and he’s arguably the toughest test Sharjah has ever had to face in the Matheson.

It’s not just a two-horse race, though. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban is sure to throw his horse-blanket in the ring, while Pied Piper and She Is Electric also have latent ability. It promises to be a belter, but State Man might just stamp his authority on a classy field which will no doubt be snapping at his hooves.

Like most of the Leopardstown handicaps this week, this is fiendish. Two of the most notable target trainers in Ireland – Charles Byrnes and Emmet Mullins – have a runner each at the top of the market, and no doubt both will be raring to go for this. Spirit Of Legend is a handicap debutant with any amount of potential following his big-field maiden win, but perhaps this can go the way of Conna Cottage.

Gavin Cromwell’s contender got off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel last time out in very easy fashion, and now makes his handicap debut off an opening rating of 111. Admittedly that contest was very weak, but he appears a pretty talented individual in the making and has a handy 7lb removed by jockey Patrick O’Brien. In such a competitive race, he could prove the best treated.

This is pretty open and also very weak, which gives last-time-out fifth Sonny May a very good chance of getting off the mark. He didn’t show much in his first three starts but improved markedly last month to finish fifth in a pretty hot Punchestown maiden.

This is significantly weaker, and given his apparent rate of improvement there’s every reason to expect he can progress again. Of the dangers, multiple point-to-point winner Desert Heather and the 97-rated Famous Agent may provide the most opposition.