Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

TRILLIANT (best price 5-2) dwarfed her opposition in every sense when scoring easily over today’s C&D last time out and this improving filly can continue her upward curve in a race which looks to be well within her compass. Undone by trying to force the issue over 1m 2f the before at Goodwood, Ed Walker’s inmate seemed much better suited by being switched off and brought with a late run when dropped back two furlongs at the Lancashire venue 63 days ago and the turn of foot she exhibited in the latter stages (best closing sectionals on the card), suggests she got more boot than connections probably previous thought. Sure to get a nice tow into the race courtesy of several front-runners being in the line-up, this big, imposing filly should be capable of outrunning her rivals late on. 

Owen Burrows is having a rare old time of things of late and ORIENTAL SONG (best price 6-1) could well provide the Lambourn handler with yet another winner. Just undone by lack of experience first time out at Chepstow, the daughter of Shamardal clearly learnt plenty from that initial outing as she was far more professional second time up at Newmarket. Always moving well in the hands of Jim Crowley, she quickened really well from the front and with her closing sectionals revealing she’d run a similar set of numbers to those posted by the useful older filly Raven’s Lady on the same card, she’s well worth her place in this better grade based on those findings.

If BAMBINO LOLA (best price 18-1) was trained by a more fashionable yard, she’d be a good deal shorter in the betting, so she has to be worth a small interest to provide Adam West with a day to remember. Following her latest victory over today’s C&D, connections were prepared to put away their star filly to grass for the year, but clearly having a change of heart due to her wellbeing, hopefully she will justify their bold policy to have a shy at the stumps. The fact that she’s managed to score over today’s stiff 6f in a fast time certainly backs up their decision based on the numbers and this tall, rangy filly by Helmet rates one to keep on side for next year whatever the outcome here this afternoon.

TEN THEATRE (NAP) (best price 5-2) ran the sort of speed figure last time at Kilbeggan that belied her current assessment and she looks ready to put that theory to the test in this rated novice hurdle. In a race run at a true gallop throughout 13 days ago, Jessica Harrington’s mare stayed on very strongly in the latter stages to get the better of the well-fancied Youcannotbeserious and with a big break of 22 lengths back to the third thanks to a final circuit time that was two seconds quicker than the 148-rated Whiteout, the form rates extremely solid.

NEWSTEAD ABBEY (best price 11-4) did pretty much everything right apart from win at Wolverhampton last week and he’s strongly fancied to gain compensation for that unlucky defeat in a race that won’t take much winning. Victorious over the same C&D the time before, Michael Herrington’s inmate probably would have supplemented those gains had he not had to endure a brutal trip out wide from his coffin box draw, but still showed he’s right on top of his game by pulling well clear of the third in what turned out to be a very strongly run race for the grade. Much better drawn here tonight in stall three, the son of Byron has enough all-round pace to hold a good early position and see it out down the lane.