Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

If Katherine Begley could have her time again, she probably would have taken her foot off the gas at some stage when riding BOND ANGEL (NAP) (best price 4-1) over today’s course last time out, but having ridden David Evans’ filly to victory twice before, she can be forgiven sufficiently enough as she bids to make amends on the track specialist.

Normally held up off the pace, the daughter of Monsieur Bond found herself in the unfamiliar role of being in front after a furlong 21 days ago and even though she did her level best to maintain a strong gallop all the way to the line, the early exertions finally caught up with her late on and she was claimed in the shadows of the post by the more patiently-ridden Mr Coco Bean. Only out of the first three once on this surface in five starts, the four-year-old filly is also the perfect 2-2 over today’s C&D and with a nice handy draw right bang in the middle of the pack, she should be dangerous to all if, just ridden off the speed, she’s allowed to come with her customary late rattle.

As usual in races of this nature, Gigginstown are well represented and of their trio of runners, NOTEBOOK (best price 11-2) makes the most appeal at the morning prices. A point-to-point winner, Henry De Bromhead’s gelding began life under rules with two decent placed efforts and even though one of those came courtesy of an odds-on defeat at Clonmel, he still left the impression he was a promising prospect for the future. Racing in the first-time tongue-tie at Tramore last time out, the son of Samum showed a bright turn of foot to leave the useful and heavily-backed Willie Mullins-trained Janidil in his wake and with the time figure backing up the visually impression of the performance, he certainly deserves to take his chance against today’s better quality opposition.

Quite an interesting handicap with several unexposed types making their handicap debuts in the field, none more so than THE VOLLAN (best price 12-1) who has shaped really well on several occasions against some pretty smart novices.

The first sign of real promise came courtesy of his performance at Lingfield two starts ago when he kept on well from the back of the field to finish a creditable sixth in a useful contest on the figures and as he went and virtually duplicated that effort last time out at Leicester, he’s now gained enough experience to warrant consideration off what looks a tempting opening mark of 110. Although he has raced keenly in the past, hopefully the tempo of a well-run handicap will help him settle down better this afternoon and if so, the son of Scorpion can show his true worth at the business end.

Of the more exposed types, TEXAN NOMAD (best price 9-1) comes into calculations based on his victory at Wincanton two starts ago and under his ideal conditions, he goes onto the shortlist. In contrast to his previous outing, the son of Nomadic Way was dropped right out the back at the West Country venue and those tactics ended up working out a treat as he came through strongly off sound fractions to score going away. In process of running a similar race at Warwick last time out, unfortunately disaster struck coming out of the back straight when he got brought down in a melee as several tried to hold their ground up the inside rail, but providing his confidence still remains intact, the seven-year-old has a perfectly reasonable each-way chance under ideal conditions.

One or two bring dodgy profiles to the table, so the answer could well be THE RED MENACE (best price 5-1) who’s suggested he’s very much getting the hang of his new discipline. A dual bumper winner during the summer months, Noel Meade’s gelding has taken a while to find his feet over hurdles but on the evidence of his latest outing at Punchestown, he surely won’t be too long before winning. Although no match for subsequent Leopardstown winner Dallas Des Pictons, the son of Mountain High kept on well enough in the closing stages to finish a creditable third and with today’s extra distance on decent ground likely to prove ideal, he should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least.