Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Some really nice types with plenty of promise on show in what should turn out to be an informative affair, but TALKTOMENOW (best price 3-1) has already shown a fair level of form under rules to suggest he will be hard to beat if running to a similar level here this afternoon. A point-to-point winner back in April, Warren Greatrex’s gelding made a pleasing start to life for new connections when chasing home the useful Getaway Trump at Plumpton last month, and with the pair 59 lengths clear of the rest and the time figure good, the race looked worth keeping tabs on. Indeed, the winner himself has gone on to endorse the form in the best possible fashion by lowering the colours of some highly-regarding tools at Exeter last week and with the son of Shirocco likely to be given a fairly aggressive ride if the first piece of evidence is reliable, he should be capable of reaping maximum returns at a track where front-runners are often handsomely rewarding.

Highland Hunter is one of Lucinda Russell’s most promising young horses and is likely to prove hard to beat, but DIGER DAUDAIE (best price 7-2 w/o fav) also has progressive profile and he may be the one to come out best in the ‘without the favourite’ market. Brought to come over to race on these shores after dead-heating in an Irish point-to-point back in February, Charlie Longsdon’s gelding made a pleasing start to life in his new surroundings when keeping on nicely to finish a creditable fifth in what’s turning out to be a useful maiden hurdle in terms of form at Chepstow last month. The third and the fourth, Know The Score and Newtide have both won since and having only finished just behind the main players in that strongly-run affair, the son of Tiger Groom is fancied to take high rank here this afternoon now there’s a greater emphasis on stamina.

A hugely competitive contest in which any number of permutations are possible, but MAJESTIC TOUCH (best price 11-2) showed up well in a better race that this one at Newbury last time out and he might just have enough quality to score beyond two miles for the first time.

Progressive through the summer jumping period, Philip Hobbs’ gelding ran really well in a big-field handicap at Cheltenham two starts ago and he followed that up by chasing home Nicky Henderson’s smart French Crusader 35 days ago. In a well-run affair for a small field, the son of Kalanisi kept on well in the latter stages despite not having the speed to live with the impressive winner, but with the third, Our Merlin, coming out next time to boost the form, there’s a strong possibility the lightly-raced seven-year-old can follow suit with conditions to suit.

ORIONINVERNESS (best price 17-2), beaten by Blakerigg two starts ago at Ayr, clearly has a bit to find with his old rival, but having run well since and returning to the scene of some of his best previous performances, Lucinda Russell’s seven-year-old has a sporting chance of reversing the places. Indeed, his latest effort when staying on well to finish runner-up against some hot competition suggested he’s holding his form together nicely, and with conditions to suit, a big run is anticipated from this consistent son of Brian Boru.

Soundly-run bumpers are a pretty rare breed but BALLY CONOR (NAP) (best price 5-2) bucked that particular trend when scoring in a fast time at Ayr on his seasonal debut and he’s strongly fancied to continue his progress and provide the hot favourite, Bon Calvados, with plenty to think about under similar testing conditions.

Fourth on his debut at Southwell back in May when patently needed the run, the son of Presenting was much sharper in all departments with that initial experience under his belt and despite showing a tendency to shift to his left in the closing stages at the Scottish venue, he still ran out a fairly comfortable winner. Moreover, the numbers suggested it was a fair effort by this scopey five-year-old and he looks to have enough quality to withstand pretty much anything that’s thrown at him.