Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Free Scorpion could easily turn out to be a total blot on the weights on his first start for Dan Skelton, but SHANKSFORAMILLION (best price 5-1) clocked a decent enough speed figure over today’s C&D here last time to hopefully give the favourite something to think about at the very least. Off the track for the thick end of two years and having shown precious little for old connections, Debra Hamer clearly has found the key to this eight-year-old on the evidence of that latest display and it’s just a case of whether he can be relied upon to go and do it again. Not only did he look good on the eye pulling nicely away from the well-fancied State The Obvious (in-turn 17 lengths clear of the rest) his final circuit time was two seconds faster than Stonecoldsoba, who landed division one of the same 2m 4f handicap half-an-hour earlier. Based on those findings, the son of Needle Gun is clearly capable of running way beyond his current rating and with conditions almost identical to what they were 17 days ago.

CAPOMENTO (best price 16-1) looked a really tenacious and likeable filly when scoring on debut at Ripon and that toughness can stand her in good stead as she makes the leap up from maiden to pattern company. Staying on powerfully in the latter stages of a well-run 6f event at the Yorkshire venue, stamina seemed to be her number one asset and with the likelihood of more improvement to come with that initial run under her belt, the step up to 7f should enable her to outrun her odds.

SILENT SUN (best price 9-2) travelled like the best horse in the race at Cork last time out before just getting nutted on the line by the well-handicapped Mr Champers, but he’s seems to have been found an excellent opportunity to gain immediate compensation for local connections. James Dullea’s inmate appeared to appreciate the flat, galloping nature of the Mallow track last time out rather than the tight bends of Tramore on his previous two starts, so there’s a decent chance he will be suited by this similar layout this evening. Hello Sweetie, fifth in that decent race 13 days ago has gone on to boost the form with a smooth success at Ballinrobe the other night and off his bargain basement mark of just 87, there’s every hope to be optimistic the son of Lucarno will follow suit.

Plenty of sexy, unexposed types going to post in this competitive-looking three-year-old handicap, but arguably the one with the best form coming into the contest is MUSIC SEEKER (NAP) (best price 9-1). A ready winner of a useful Newmarket maiden on his first start this season, James Eustace’s inmate was pitched into what has turned out to be a very informative race at Doncaster on his first try in handicap company last time out and with the likes of Afaak, Mojito, Marzouq and Auberge De Luc all going on to endorse the form subsequently, he clearly was up against a useful bunch of three-year-olds that day. Outpaced and in a poor tactical position when the pace increased three out, the son of Henrythenavigator stayed on takingly in the latter stages to finish just on the coat tails on the main protagonists and shaping as though he may need further to be seen to better effect in future, tonight’s extra yardage and underfoot conditions (won on soft), should play into his strengths over this galloping track.

DECISION MAKER (best price 10-1) has run with immense promise in several decent maidens and he’s done more than enough to suggest there are plenty of races to be won with him now sent handicapping. First catching the eye when travelling well before not quite getting home over the extended mile on soft ground at Nottingham two starts ago, Roy Bowring’s inmate once again moved like the best horse in the race in a 6f contest over today’s C&D last time out. Just picked off by the fast-finishing Maid In India late on, the son of Iffraaj went down as just the type to follow in the footsteps of stable mate Foolaad, who starting off life in a similar fashion before rattling off handicaps from the mid-70’s rating band.