Andy Holding's Thursday Horse Racing Tips

Missing the break and getting in behind the speed ultimately cost PIAZON (best price 7-2) any chance he had over today’s C&D last time out, but he’s fancied to make amends with a decent break from a potentially favourable draw this time around. Giving the in-form winner that day, Lady Nayef, a five-length head start was always going to prove a bridge too far, so to get with a length of his stable mate at the line was a commendable effort by John Butler’s charge. Prior to that decent performance, the son of Striking Ambition had also run extremely well from a modest draw behind another in-form horse at the time in the shape of Captain Lars so today’s opposition shouldn’t hold too many fears for this rampant six-year-old who continues bang on top of his game.

Soir De Chantenay could well turn out to be a blot on the weights dropping back down in class following two unpromising efforts in Graded company, but at the same time there’s a huge element of guesswork involved with Gavin Cromwell’s charge and he’s readily passed over at the prices in favour of TOUSHAN (best price 28-1) and BELCLARE BOY (best price 28-1). Although both have slightly sketchy profiles of late, their best performances have come at today’s track and it’s that straw that is worth clutching to when analysing their chance at fancy odds. The former, although pulled up last time out, he did manage to run with a god deal of credit the time before in a hot handicap chase at Limerick so it’s not as if he’s totally gone at the game. Moreover, his career record at today’s venue reads 313135 and now racing on a mark 10lb lower than his current chase mark, Thomas Foley’s charge could easily spring a surprise if he can translate his best form back over hurdles. A similar case can also be made for the latter based on his best performances stemming from the Co Kilkenny track and local trainer pat Meany has booked the services of crack young conditional Barry John Foley to do the steering.

Once again, Gordon Elliot is mob-handed in another of these big staying handicap chases, so it would come as no surprise to see the Co Meath handler claim another big pot, but as we saw last year, this race can be one for the underdogs and in the shape of MY MURPHY (best price 18-1) and MONTYS MEADOW (best price 12-1), they both have a chance of providing their small trainer’s with a day to remember. Indeed, it was the former who gave Liam Burke one of his finest hours when he took this prize twelve months ago and given that he’s had been very lightly-raced since, suggest connections have had this race in mind for their charge ever since. Having just had the one run over hurdles against much speedier horses over an inadequate trip should have had the desired effect in blowing away the cobwebs and with today’s track very much playing into his strengths over the years, the son of Presenting should once again give another good account.

The latter has had one or two jumping issues in recent times but when he does manage to stay on his feet he tends to run up to a very high standard. A victory over the smart Arbre De Vie – albeit slightly fortuitously – highlighted his qualities over fences last season and he was still going well enough until disaster struck three fences from home on his final start in Grade 3 company. Continuing his fine level of form into this campaign, he ran a blinder when runner-up on his most recent outing in the competitive Tim Duggan Memorial Chase at Limerick over 2m 4f and now stepping up to a trip which should suit him better, James Mangan’s charge can go close with a clear round.

HEAVY METAL (best price 9-2) has been up against some proper dirt powerhouses so far at the carnival and although he may have to face another one in the shape of Tumbaga, there’s no reason why he won’t give another good account of himself at the very least. The likes of Stormadal, My Catch and Desert Force proved too hot for the son of Exceed And Excel to handle on his first three outings at the minor meetings prior to Christmas, but each run had clearly bought him on nicely as he was the only horse to offer any sort of resistance to the relentless galloper North America here last time. Doing well to overcome a wide draw in stall 13, Salem Ghadayer’s charge pushed the all-the-way winner from gate to wire and with the numbers for that race suggesting it was a fair heat of its kind, this consistent type may get his just rewards for his sterling recent endeavours.