Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

MULLINAVAT (NAP) (best price 11-10) has somehow managed to get beat on his last two starts over hurdles, but he’s definitely worth another try to prove how well treated he is compared to his chasing mark. Beaten fair and square seemingly by Sharjah when last seen over hurdle here back in June, he hit the deck when a short-priced favourite to make amends at Cork two starts ago, but it’s his latest effort over fences which points to him being head and shoulders above this field. Picking up the running after the second, Henry De Bromhead’s inmate ran his rivals ragged with a display of raw pace and with the time figure he posted that day suggesting he’s miles better than a 118 horse over the larger obstacles, surely he won’t miss this penalty kick off just 86.

QUARENTA (best price 7-2) came out second best of a protracted dual with Katy P at Worcester last time out, but the overall speed figure suggested it was still a smart effort in defeat by the five-year-old gelding and this looks to be a decent opportunity for him to exploit his current handicap mark accordingly. Given that it was also his first outing since May, he’s entitled to come on considerably for the run and with two furlongs less to travel another positive in his direction, he rates a strong choice to finally break his duck over hurdles.

NUMBER ONE LONDON (best price 2-1) was unfortunate to bump into the well-handicapped Zamoyski at Southwell last time out and with his conqueror going on to advertise the value of the form two days ago, there’s every chance Tim Vaughan’s inmate will follow suit. Formerly a very smart performer on the Flat for Brian Meehan, the son of Invincible Spirit has yet to set the world alight since switching codes for new connections, but he has dropped down to a tantalisingly-low mark and the signs are that he’s getting ever-closer to exploiting it.

No great surprise to the last-time-out winners heading the market here, but of the pair, EASY CODE (best price 2-1) makes the most appeal based on his speed figure he posted over the C&D nine days ago. In what turned out to be a strongly-run race for the grade, William Haggas’ inmate quickened smartly in the latter stages to dispense his opposition in pretty decisive fashion and with connections clearly doing the right thing by running their charge again before being reassessed, their ingenuity should be rewarded handsomely. 

Hailing from the sexy stable of rookie local handler Ollie Murphy, Undefined Beauty is clearly going to be the pivotal horse in this particular race, but not all the runners from his Warwickshire base have been performing according to the market of late, so there may be some value to be had elsewhere in the shape of MILAN OF CRYSTAL (best price 8-1), who was arguably an unlucky loser here last time. Held up off the back of sound fractions, Dave Roberts’ inmate was coming with what appeared to be a potent challenge two out only to step at the hurdle and take a crashing tumble. Had she stayed on her feet she would have recorded a decent speed figure (winner clocked a good time) and providing her confidence isn’t too badly affected, compensation awaits the daughter of Milan returning to the scene of that late demise.