Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Based on the time figure recorded by Kincora Fort here 15 days ago, it wasn’t a bad race of its kind and having run well to finish a creditable third, DYLANSEOGHAN (NAP) (best price 2-1) must have great chance of going close in this seemingly weaker affair. Although yet to win under rules, Zoe Davidson’s inmate has acquitted himself well of several occasions and with two of those performances coming over today’s course, it’s pretty clear that the nine-year-old has a certain affinity with the Midland venue. Indeed, his latest effort - in a race noted for its surprisingly quick final circuit time compared to the one won by the 124-rated Some Are Lucky – deserves upgrading and providing he can run somewhere near that level again this afternoon, his maiden tag may well be finally broken.

GOLDEN WOOD (best price 7-4) is the perfect 2-2 over today’s C&D and there’s no real reason why he won’t keep his 100% record intact with plenty in his favour. Despite his relatively advanced years, the son of Gold Away seems to be getting better with age and his latest victory over Gold Star got an immediate boost when the runner-up scored on his next outing. Not only did he find a smart turn of foot in the latter stages to fend off the runner-up in a driving finish, he also accounted for his main market rival today, Best Solution, and with Christophe Soumillion unbeaten on the French raider, the duo make for an irresistible force.

Based on the speed figures over in the desert, there’s nothing to touch DUTCH MASTERPIECE (best price 11-2) in this 6f handicap, it’s just a question of whether the eight-year-old can stretch out for an extra furlong and translate all his top-quality form from the minimum trip. A winner over 1200 metres at Sakhir on just his second start for new connections, Jaber Ramadhan’s inmate served notice that he was going to be a potent force in all the top sprint races at the carnival when third to the impressive Ertijaal in a cracking 5f contest on the numbers last month (had plenty of today’s field well beat that day). Going on from that initial course debut, the son of Dutch Art accounted for a similar set of rivals that he faces today when making just about all the running from a potentially tricky draw two weeks later and if it wasn’t for the blistering all-round pace of Hit The Bid here last week, he would have backed that performance up in pretty impressive style, because he finished well clear of the rest. Although he can make the running, he’s probably better off today just trying to take a lead today and from a nice middle draw, he can stalk and pounce in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

SUYOOF (best price 5-2) could have done with a slightly better draw, but otherwise, he looks to have excellent claims of building on his promising effort first time off the plane several weeks ago. In a very strong handicap which was probably a Group race in all but name, Mike De Kock’s inmate was immediately behind the eight-ball following a typically tardy start and to make matters worse, he then got shuffled further down the field after meeting interference coming out of the back straight. Once in the clear, the son of Magic Albert came home takingly from an uncompromising position to record an impressive 34.1 closing 3f sectional and in going strongly at the finish, he left the impression there would be plenty to come next time around. Indeed, given that he hails from a stable that often leave plenty to work with on their first outings, one can expect a good leap forward with regards to condition this time around, and with an extra furlong also likely to play into his strengths, the chestnut is fancied to make his class tell and defy top weight at the main expense of the improving Hornsby who ran well in better company last time out.