Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

CLON COULIS (best price 2-1) is a horse seriously on the upgrade and she looks ready to take it to another level based on her performances so far to date. An easy winner at Carlisle on debut, David Barron’s inmate should have followed up next time out at Newmarket, but a poor track position due to lack of experience counted against her in the final reckoning. Well-backed to gain compensation at Hamilton last time out, the daughter of Vale Of York made no mistake, and with her time figures pointing towards her being a potential pattern filly in the making, she should be capable of coming through today’s examination if that theory is to bear fruit further down the line.

Mick Quinn has done a grand job with GREAT HALL (best price 9-1) and with the seven-year-old seemingly in a good place mentally at present, the hat trick could easily be achievable for this durable character. Having run well without much reward throughout the early part of the campaign, it was nice to see the Halling gelding gain a handsome pot for his endeavours at Ascot two starts ago and he duly went in again once he found his mojo on his return to the Berkshire track on his latest outing. Staying on stoutly in the latter stages, he proved too strong for several well-fancied three-year-olds and with his love of soft ground one of his key factors to his recent success, those from the classic generation may have to bow down to his experience for this type of event once again.

Michael Winters has endured a pretty rough time of things recently, but the green buds of recovery are beginning to blossom for the Co Cork handler and one of his success stories in that period has been GRANNY BIDDY (NAP) (best price 11-4). Off the mark at the 13th time of asking at Tramore two starts ago, she supplemented those gains with an even more praiseworthy performance at the Listowel Festival last week and she should be tough to beat once again if running to a similar standard. In a race noted for its sound pace for the grade, the daughter of Flemensfirth stayed on too strongly for a couple of well-fancied runners in the shape of Tough But Honest and Queen Khaleesi and with that effort coming on heavy ground, she will be more at home under today’s testing conditions than most and she can make that factor count in her hat trick bid.