Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

GETADAY (best price 15-2) rates one of the most unexposed runners in this competitive line-up and he’s very much worth chancing on his first attempt in handicap company off what appears a workable mark. Although yet to win a race in five starts, Tom Nagle’s gelding has been knocking at the door and his latest effort when runner-up to Eurobot in a useful maiden hurdle at Cork represents a smart level of form. Seemingly appreciating the step up to three miles, the son of Getaway kept on strongly in the latter stages to press the winner all the way to the line and with the well-fancied pair, Invincible Cave and Castlebrook well beaten in behind, the form looks useful. 

Of the rest, ALLEZ KAL (best price 14-1) appears to have been underestimated in the market considering the level of competition she’s been facing of late and she’s also worth a small each-way interest at the morning prices. A game winner of a hugely-competitive 0-140 handicap at Cork off the back of a 188-day break back in November, James Barcoe’s mare failed in her bid to repeat the dose back at the same track last time out, but that’s to say she didn’t come out of the race with great credit.

Held up at the back of the field early on, the daughter of Kalanisi made up a ton of ground in the latter stages and given that all the main players that day raced handy, her performance probably deserved upgrading. Likely to be given a similarly patient ride here this afternoon, nothing will be finishing as strongly than the eight-year-old and she rates a decent each-way play at 14-1.

A wide-open edition of this sought-after prize and with the Mullins and Elliot battalions out in full force once again (pair responsible for 78% of the field), life is made doubly hard for punters unless they’ve got the inside track. Stable knowledge aside, the one that makes the most appeal from these two powerful yards at the prices is SOME NECK (best price 9-1) as he’s always shaped like one of these big staying chases is well within his compass.

Coming from an unlikely position at halfway to in the end win with a degree of comfort on his chasing debut over today’s course this time last year, the eight-year-old grey, unfortunately, blotted his copybook on several occasions through shoddy jumping thereafter. Jumping much better on his season return at Punchestown, however, the son of Yeats proved too strong for the smart Blow By Blow to capture a Grade 2 prize on ground far from ideal, and providing he can get into a decent rhythm over the early fences, his boundless stamina should at least give him some chance of playing a significant role at the business end. 

Of the Elliot sextet, it’s difficult to split DOUNIKOS (best price 12-1) and General Principle on their recent exploits in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, but there’s a decent chance the former might just prove to be the pick. Everything looked to be in front of the son of Smadoun after he beat subsequent Thyestes winner Monbeg Notorious on his chasing debut here at the start of last season and followed up in a Grade 2 at Limerick, but after that point onwards, the wheels totally came off.

Pulled up on his last three outing of the campaign, his confidence seemed to be in ruins and it’s taken a while for the fire to burn bright again. His latest performance at the Dublin venue, however, did signal a return to something venturing close to his best and providing he can run to a similar level here this afternoon, the eight-year-old has a chance of being competitive.

MINISTERFORSPORT (best price 5-1) shaped really well on his second outing over fences at Naas and he’s fancied to build on that promising effort and give the front two in the betting plenty to think about. A useful hurdler in his own right, Noel O’Neill’s gelding, unfortunately, got no further than the first in the beginners chase eventually won by Getabird on his debut over the larger obstacles, so there must have been an element of self-preservation in order to get home safely at the Co Kildare venue 37 days ago.

Nursed around towards the rear of the field, the son of Dubai Destination improved his position as his confidence began to improve during the second part of the contest and in finishing off his race strongest of all from two out, he managed to get within hailing distance of the useful pair A Plus Tard and Duc De Genievres. Although this ex-point winner shapes like he needs a decent test, it’s noticeable that he has managed to score over the minimum trip before and with the ground this afternoon putting more of an emphasis on stamina, the eight-year-old should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least with a clear round.

It was a proper baptism of fire where DOLKONG (best price 11-1) was concerned on his UAE debut two weeks ago, but he should find today’s opposition a good deal more palatable and he rates an interesting contender at a big price. Unable to go the frantic early fractions set by the powerhouse that is North America over the mile, the son of Afleet Alex was unsurprisingly taken off his feet by genuine Grade 1 dirt horses running at a level he was unaccustomed.

That said, he did impress by the way he resisted the temptation to completely throw in the towel as he kept on well from the tail of the field to finish a creditable sixth, and his two furlongs split of 25.7 is still pretty useful in the context of today’s race (favourite Tried And True clocked 26.8 from the same point in his latest race). Hopefully, today’s step up in trip and more serene gallop will help the five-year-old chestnut get a better foothold in the race this evening and if so, he has the requisite stamina to be competitive late on (has raced over 1m 3f in South Korea).