Andy Holding's Thursday Horse Racing Tips

Division One of the bet365 Novices’ Hurdle run at Hereford last month was by far and away the best time figure on that seven-race card, so there’s a decent chance unconsidered outsider here, LADY KARINA (best price 25-1), may be capable of outrunning her morning odds based on her performance in that contest. Making her debut that afternoon, Venetia Williams’ charge shaped a good deal better than her final finishing position suggested and given that she was entitled to lack a little match fitness and knowledge, it wasn’t a bad effort in the grand scheme of things. The form of that race at the Midland venue took a huge boost when third-placed horse, New Member scored next time out at Huntingdon (big miss by yours truly) and likely to have come on for the run both mentally and physically, the daughter of Kayf Tara is worth a small shy at the stumps at her big early morning odds.

LORD OF THE ISLAND (NAP) (best price 9-2) looked a totally different proposition on his first outing for new connections at Towcester 21 days and he’s fancied to follow up that success despite a meaningful hike from the handicapper. Disappointing on his final start for Sally Randall, the son of Heron Island left that well behind with a commanding performance at the Midland venue and with the time figure suggesting it was a decent race of its kind, the eight-year-old might just have the necessary improvement in him to get the better of his main market rival Rocklander, who also arrives here in good form courtesy of two good performances on the clock.

Granted, KICKING THE CAN (best price 8-1) did get the run of the race when he finally got off the mark at the 28th time of asking over today’s course last time out, but the fact he did beat subsequent winners Sunglider and Maifalki does at least put a bit more flesh on the bones from a form perspective. Up until that initial success, the Aussie Rules gelding had cut a particularly frustrating character on more than one or two occasions, but at the same time, he went well enough in many of those contests to suggest it was only a matter of time before Lady Luck was on his side. Although clearly not one to go overboard about given his poor win-to-run ratio, he does possess the sort of cruising speed that is likely to get him into the thick end of the action at the very least, and he has to make some sort of appeal from an each-way perspective over a track where his form figures read 42202361.

With the National Hunt season now in full swing here is your opportunity to access Andy Holding’s unique speed figures for all UK and Irish meetings. For more details go to andyholdingspeedfigures.co.uk.