Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Kalashnikov has looked very good on his first two starts over fences and remains a first-class prospect for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but at the same time, this will be the first time he’s raced right-handed in his life and whether he deserves to be 4-6 up against DYNAMITE DOLLARS (best price 7-2), who’s already proven in Grade 1 company over fences is open to debate.

As we saw yesterday, Paul Nicholls’ is a dangerous man to underestimate, particular when he’s the underdog, and that was the case when he sent this son of Buck’s Boum to face Lalor at Sandown last time out. In a strongly-run affair at the Esher track, the five-year-old seemed to be in his element racing at championship pace and having put in a decent round of jumping to keep himself in the piece down to the second last, he stayed on strongest of all to beat main market rival and brave Irish raider Ornua up the hill.

The feature of that race 19 days ago, was the very fast circuit time and overall speed figure compared to Tingle Creek hero Altior, and with that form arguably the pick of the novices over fences so far this season, he’s surely worth a stab at his morning price of 7-2 to see whether he can run to the same level on this flatter track.

TRIPLICATE (best price 3-1) hasn’t had the sufficient gear change to cope with the top-class Quick Grabim on his last two starts, but on each occasion he’s finished off his race well enough to suggest that a stiffer test on softer ground might just see him in a better light and he’s taken to confirm that theory here this afternoon.

Winner of two novice events in the Autumn, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding was sent to Tipperary for his first taste of Graded action and although he came up a little short, the sharp track and quick ground at the time were valid excuses for the five-year-old. Again done for tactical speed as Willie Mullins’ charge kicked off the front in the Grade 1 Royal Bond at the Co Kildare venue last time out, the son of Galileo at least kept on strongly enough in the latter stages to finish an honourable second, and as all his previous best performances have arisen from when there’s been plenty of give underfoot, today’s yielding conditions and stiff climb to the line from two out should at least provide him with the ideal playing field to show his true colours.

TUDOR CITY (NAP) (best price 5-1) isn’t the most original of selections, but it was hard to get away from his latest effort in an ultra-competitive contest at Fairyhouse and he’s strongly fancied to confirm the impression he made at the Co Meath venue.

Despite the large field 25 days ago, they didn’t go much of a gallop and as the race developed into a bit of a dash off the home turn, Tony Martin’s gelding just got caught flat-footed at the most crucial point of the contest. Finishing off his race best of all, however, he left the distinct impression he would have won with a more evenly-run gallop and having run well at today’s course of his four previous visits over hurdles – including when fifth in the big two-mile handicap last January – the son of Yeats has the right profile to be there or thereabouts again.

DE BENNO (best price 25-1) is certainly no spring chicken, but that didn’t stop him from demolishing similar rivals to today’s in this race last year and at 25-1 he has to be worth a small interest to see whether he can repeat the dose.

Arriving here twelve months ago in great form, the 13-year-old grey set a strong pace from the start and in the testing conditions which suit him so well, he never looked like getting caught. Campaigned differently this time around, he comes here via a pipe-opener over hurdles over two miles at Cork a few weeks ago, but that effort suggests connections have had their eye on this prize for quite some time and off his bargain basement weight, the son of Beneficial can easily outstrip his odds. 

Elegant Escape clearly brings the best form and a touch of class to the party and if he gets the trip, then he’s the most likely winner. However, VINTAGE CLOUDS (best price 9=1) is a pretty reliable conveyance in races of this type and last year’s fourth rates the percentage call at the morning prices.

Following that brave effort here twelve months ago, when he was badly hampered twice, Sue Smith’s grey went on to finish third at the Cheltenham Festival before rounding off his season with another gallant display in the Scottish Grand National.

Back in business with a bang on his opening salvo to this campaign ay Haydock, the eight-year-old showed all his usual battling qualities to get the better of the strong-travelling Captain Redbeard, who looked to be going better all the way down the straight, and with today’s testing conditions and marathon trip right in his ballpark, this consistent and likeable campaigner looks set to put his cards on the table once again.

As you’d expect for the money on offer, a typically wide-open renewal of this sought-after prize and the two that have the sort of credentials to make an impact are BLACK SCORPION (best price 18-1) and ANY SECOND NOW (best price 12-1). 

The former has risen through the ranks in recent times and following an easy success at the Listowel Festival, he was saved especially for a tilt at the Munster National at Limerick last time out. Racing over 3m for the first time, the son of Scorpion simply travelled too well for his own good towards the head of affairs and as it turned out, those early exertions caught up with him when push came to shove over the last two fences.

He did, however, leave the impression that a race of that nature was well within his compass if ridden with a shade more restraint and with another of his chief attributes being his excellent jumping, Eric McNamara’s improving and lightly-raced seven-year-old has all the tools to showcase his talents on the big stage. 

The latter is clearly immensely talented, but at the same time, he’s also got a dark side to his make-up and it will simply be a case of whether the first-time blinkers has the desired effect on only his second start in handicap company. Good enough to finish within hailing distance of Footpad over two miles twice last season, it was little surprise that Ted Walsh’s gelding was a strong fancy for many in the big 2m 4f novices’ handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Unfortunately, the son of Oscar didn’t really fancy getting his hands dirty that day and as he went on to prove at Naas on his opening bow this season that he simply can’t be trusted at a short price.

Arriving here after once again throwing away a golden opportunity to get off the mark over fences at Fairyhouse last time out, the six-year-old is at least traded at the sort of price that a small each-way play is worth the risk and it wouldn’t come as the biggest shock in the world if he were to become enlightened by the headgear and run a big race.