Andy Holding's Thursday Horse Racing Tips

MR CLARKSON (best price 5-4) had a whole series of things go wrong for him last time when a short-priced favourite at Exeter, but as he showed the time before in beating subsequent Ludlow scorer Ridgeway Flyer at the same track, he’s a talented performer when he puts it all together and he can reward the long journey up to the Durham venue. Runner-up to subsequent Grade 1 winner Finian’s Oscar in a point-to-point, David Pipe’s inmate was quickly off the mark on his first start under rules in a bumper, and he wasted no time in translating his qualities to hurdles with a tidy effort at the same track next time. Unfortunately, on his latest outing a bad mistake at the first resulted in the bit slipping through the son of Jeremy’s mouth on his return visit to the West Country course 11 days ago and he had to be pulled up some way from home, but on the evidence of what we’ve seen of him so far and his overall form, a race of this nature looks well within his grasp.

As we’ve seen on numerous occasions out in the desert, a good draw and the perfect trip counts for more than the sheer pounds and ounces on dirt so using that idealism, COMPLEMENTI (best price 9-4) has a decent chance of turning the form around with several that finished ahead of her in the UAE 1000 Guineas last time out. Posted wide throughout from her poor draw out on the wing, Doug Watson’s charge impressed by the way she stuck stoically to the task despite the amount of ground she gave away, so her performance in finishing a close-up fourth deserves to be upgraded. Prior to that Herculean effort, the daughter of Congrats had suffered a similar fate in the trial race when finishing second to Really Special, but this time around from her favoured inside draw compared to many of her old adversaries, she’s fancied to have her day in the sun despite slight queries over the extra trip.

FIRST DU CHARMIL (best price 6-1) faced quite a stiff test on his first start back after a 340-day layoff at Towcester last time out, but he managed to acquit himself with plenty of credit in finishing third behind two useful sorts and he can go well at nice each-way price. Holding every chance until facing the hill at the Midland venue, understandably Tom Lacey’s charge got a little tired from that point onward, but equally, he kept on well enough to suggest that granted decent ground and extra yardage to cover he would be a potent force in the future.

OH THIS IS US (NAP) (best price 5-1) made a bright start to his life out in the desert and if he can build on that initial performance, there’s no reason why he won’t run huge in this concluding handicap. Off the back of a 96-day break, Richard Hannon’s colt was dropped out from his wide draw in order to give him the best possible chance of capturing a competitive handicap, but in the end, the head start which he gave the eventual winner, Salateen, proved a bridge too far. That said, the son of Acclamation may have achieved the impossible if he would have gained a clearer run down the straight, but either way, his overall performance and finishing kick suggested he has all the tools to win in his new vocation and he’s been given every chance to do so today from his favoured inside draw.