Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

CASTLE HARBOUR (best price 13-2) is surely much better than what he showed us at Doncaster on his seasonal return and if so, he’s likely to outrun his odds back over a course where he was hugely impressive this time last year. Although he failed to cut much ice on Town Moor, John Gosden’s charge was asked to make up a huge amount of ground he forfeited after a tardy start and in a race where the tempo was an unrelenting one throughout (extremely big speed figure), he couldn’t quite sustain his run over a trip which probably stretched his stamina in any case. From a yard that has already had five winners at the meeting, it would come as little surprise to see him bounce back to form on ground that will suit. 

INDIAN STREAM (best price 5-1) ran an extraordinary race against some of the best mares around at the Festival back in March and she looks booked to go well again at a track that clearly plays to her advantage. Winner of the mares chase final here last season, Neil Mulholland’s charge was good enough to beat Theatre Guide on her second start of this campaign at Wetherby and then after being put away while weather went against her during the depths of winter, she made her comeback off the back of a 137-day absence to finish a very creditable fourth in the David Nicholson behind Apple’s Jade and Co on her latest outing. Moreover, she would have finished a good deal closer had she not inexplicably hit a mid-race crisis going down the back straight and even though she has to shoulder top weight here, the daughter of Generous’ class can tell.

Time may tell that DABULENA (NAP) (best price 13-8) bumped into a very smart filly in the shape of Angel Island on her debut at Cork, but with that all-important run under belt, she strongly fancied to shed her maiden tag at the second time of asking. Well fancied on her opening bow 18 days ago (9-2 into 11-4), Dermot Weld filly looked like justifying the money in her direction as she swept to the front two out, but even though she ran hard all the way to the line, she couldn’t quite match the finishing kick of the winner who had the physique to power her way through the testing ground just a bit better in the latter stages. However, the pair pulled nicely clear of the rest and with the overall and sectionals times of the race suggesting the front two could be pattern fillies in the making, it will take a decent effort from one of her rivals to lower her colours if she makes the expected improvement from race one to race two.