Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

MAGICAL EFFECT (best price 5-1) is a pretty reliable sort in these sort of events and his general run of consistent from looks set to continue at a track where he’s gone well in the past. Yet to finish out of the money in 10 career starts, Ruth Carr’s lightly-raced five-year-old began this season in the best possible fashion with a hard-fought victory at Ripon and although he narrowly failed in his bid to follow up last time out at Thirsk, he still ran a pretty solid race in finish a close-up second to in-form Art Exhibition. Runner-up on previous two visits to today’s track, the son of New Approach also represents a stable in decent nick at present and from a fair middle draw, he should get plenty of early cover before striking late on.

BRIMHAM ROCKS (best price 11-8) looked a horse going places when scoring by a wide margin at Haydock last week and he’s strongly fancied to supplement those gains despite racing on a much quicker surface. Dramatically improved since upped in trip this season, Ralph Beckett’s charge certainly proved that stamina is his key weapon judged on how strong he was in the latter stages of that race at the Lancashire venue seven days ago, and with today’s big, wide and expansive track likely to suit this long-striding and substantial gelding, he appears to have the race at his mercy under just a 6lb mandatory penalty.

FUWAIRT (best price 9-1) has covered himself with glory in three better races than the one he encounters today so far this season and he looks poised to take advantage of that slight ease in grade. Only beaten five lengths in the Spring Mile at Newbury on his seasonal return, the Arcano gelding did really well to finish as close as he did next time out at Chester as he was posted out wide thanks to his coffin box draw in stall 13. Returning to the Roodee, Roger Fell’s inmate managed to get within two lengths of the well-handicapped Fastnet Tempest in another extremely competitive and strongly run affair and with 7f with a bit of ease in the ground being virtually his ideal conditions, a big run looks on the cards.

POWERSBOMB (NAP) (best price 5-1) is better known for his exploits during the winter months, but he’s definitely not devoid of pace and he should be capable of going well in a race which contains many similar types from the National Hunt fraternity. Just an average hurdler, Brian McMahon’s inmate improved markedly once facing up to the larger obstacles in recent times and following an excellent effort over tonight’s course in a competitive handicap chase back in January, connections saw fit to take their charge to the big novices’ handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Having travelled well throughout, the seven-year-old gelding just couldn’t quite see it out on his first attempt over 2m 4f, but at the same time, it went a long way to show just how far he has grown as a horse over the last twelve months. Using the favourite, Mr Fiftyone, as a guide, there wouldn’t be too much between them based on pure ability and ratings, so with that in mind, the son of Trans Island makes plenty of appeal as an each-way alternative to Jessica Harrington’s charge.