Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

A really nasty staying handicap with 4-1 the field a fair idea of what faces punters in their attempts to find the winner, but there’s been a lot to like about the last two performances of CROESO CYMRAEG (best price 7-2) and he rates the solid-looking each-way call around the 4-1 mark.

Having his first outing for new connections off the back of a 104-day break, James Evans’ gelding travelled really well four a large proportion of the 1m 4f journey, but when push came to shove inside the final two furlongs, the lack of a recent run appeared to take its toll late on.

Similarly held up on his latest start at Kempton, the son of Dick Turpin found himself in an impossible position as the field rounded the home turn, so it was to his great credit that he semi-rescued the situation with a rousing finish to grab third close home. Clearly, that performance at the Surrey track was a better indication of his fitness levels and now returning to the scene of that promising effort on his fibresand debut, the lightly-raced five-year-old has a decent opportunity to break his duck.

Katherine Begley has caught the eye in recent weeks with her polished performances in the saddle and with three wins out of her last five rides for her governor Dave Evans, the promising apprentice looks to have another solid chance of hitting the back of the net again with BOND ANGEL (best price 9-2).

Successful when a wide-margin winner on her first start at today’s track back in November, the daughter of Monsieur Bond has continued to rise through the ranks and even though the handicapper has tried his best to intervene, she’s still managed to land two of her last three starts in the hands of today’s pilot. Indeed, the four-year-old filly might have completed the hat trick if she’d enjoyed a better passage over the C&D last time out and providing she gets the rub of the green on her return visit to the Nottinghamshire venue, her strong finish is likely to see her bang in the thick of the action late on. 

Quite a few of these met in a similar contest three weeks ago and without a shadow of doubt WOVEN (best price 5-2) was the one to take from the race and for that reason, he’s the automatic choice to vindicate the impression her created on his Dubai debut.

A game winner of a useful novice event at York on his final start as a two-year-old, David Simcock’s colt had to try and defy a 123-day layoff when sent to post a well-fancied 15-2 chance in what looked an ultra-competitive race on paper, and there’s no doubt he would have justified the money in his direction with anything like a clearer run.

The problems began at the start for the son of Dutch Art, as he got hampered and knocked back in the field, and although he did his level best to retrieve the situation in the latter stages, the Godolphin-trained winner had already obtained first run and an advantage he couldn’t quite overcome.

The way he went through the line, however, clearly suggest he’s plenty of running left in his legs and providing Jim Crowley can manufacture a smoother passage on this scopey chestnut, the end result will hopefully be in the affirmative. 

Bedoiun’s Story was quite an unlucky loser on his debut in the desert 14 days ago and commands the utmost respect, but even with a clear run here this evening, he will have his work cut out to contain BAROOT (best price 7-1), who ran out an impressive winner of a similar C&D handicap on his seasonal reappearance. A veteran of 15 races at the track, Mike De Kock’s has always managed to strike at least once during the campaign and he made sure that trend continued with arguably one of his better displays.

Held up towards the back of the pack, the son of Dubawi looked like he’d got plenty of work on his plate as the field rounded the home turn, but in finding an impressive change of gear in the final furlong, he sprinted clear of his toiling rivals close home. Although tonight’s assignment represents a stiffer test, he at least arrives here in tremendous shape and his turn of foot is always likely to be a potent weapon good enough to consider a bet in his direction.