Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Humanitarian will clearly capture all the pre-race chat on his seasonal return having already proved himself a smart colt in victory last season, but arguably the most interesting runner in the field is GALILEO SILVER (best price 11-2) and he rates a fair alternative at the morning odds. 

The son of Galileo has clearly had one or two issues along the way, being as he’s just had the one start, but it was certainly a run filled with promise and it gives new connections plenty to work with going forward. Tardily away in a Windsor maiden, Alan King’s gelding had plenty on his plate as the field turned for home and raced towards the intersection, but from that point onwards he really did pick up the bridle and finish off his race with plenty of purpose.

Although he narrowly failed to reel in the more experienced Cassini, the four-year-old left the impression he was the best horse in the race and now in the care of a trainer really beginning to make waves among his peers on the Flat, he should be capable of giving a good account of himself despite having to give weight away all round.

All eyes will quite rightly be on Too Darn Hot who bids to kick-start his eagerly-awaited three-year-old campaign and while it would come as no surprise to see his class pull him through his first examination on-route towards the Derby, TELECASTER (best price 13-2) rates the percentage each-way call at the morning prices.

A promising runner-up to Derby-bound Bangkok at Doncaster on his debut, Hughie Morrison’s colt clearly learnt plenty from that initial experience on the evidence of his Windsor romp next out as he simply tore his 15 rivals apart. Given license to really go and express himself at the Surrey venue, the son of New Approach really let rip in no uncertain terms and in stopping the clock in a very smart time, he posted the sort of speed figure which very much suggested he deserves a pop at something far more substantial. 

It will be fascinating to see how one of last season’s star juveniles, Soldiers Call, gets on first time off the shelf and it would come as no surprise if he were to make a winning return if he’s at the same sort of levels that allowed him to push the very best older sprinters around in the Prix De l’Abbeye on his penultimate start. Of those who’ve had the benefit of a previous outing this season, GARRUS (best price 9-2) appeals as one of those who could make a breakthrough at this level and looks the obvious each-way alternative to the short-priced favourite. 

Smart as a juvenile, he left the impression that he’s a proper speedball on more than several occasions and that’s probably one of the main reasons why he came up short on his last two starts of the campaign when the ground blunted his natural pace. Proving that theory in spades on his first outing this term, Jeremy Noseda’s inmate broke the five-furlong track record at Nottingham on genuinely fast ground and with today’s conditions likely to play a huge emphasis on raw speed, the son of Acclamation should be in his element.

As there’s likely to be plenty of well-fancied and highly-regarded newcomers on parade, it’s a race to treat with caution from a betting perspective, but at the same time, such was the promise that RED MAHARANI (best price 20-1) displayed on debut at Chelmsford, that it would be crazy not to have a few quid in her direction at the early morning odds.

Slowly away and wide from her poor draw at the Essex track, the daughter of Sepoy found herself in a hopeless position as the field turned for home, but in putting in a power-packed charge down the centre of the course in the closing stages, she somehow managed to finish within hailing distance of the main players. Likely to know a good deal more second time around, James Given’s filly should end up being a bigger player than her odds imply, especially if her stall position towards the far side ends up being the place to be situated. 

YOU CAN’T CATCH ME (best price 7-1) always has to be a major consideration at tonight’s venue, even more so on genuinely fast ground, and the 10-year-old is fancied to put up a bold show in his bid for course win number six.

A surprise winner away from his spiritual home over fences at Thurles two starts ago, the last time Kieran Purcell’s gelding encountered similar conditions to those his faces tonight at the Co Tipperary venue he ran out a resounding 14 length winner last June and even though he faces stern opposition in the shape of recent winner Mutadaffeq, his all-important track knowledge gives him more than a puncher’s chance.

OROMO (NAP) (best price 7-2) may have disappointed a few when beaten at a relatively short price at Down Royal the other day, but when you considered the speed figure Glendaar’s Warrior posted, he can certainly be forgiven and for that reason he’s afforded another chance to get back on the winning trail. 
Impressive the time before at Perth, in retrospect the son of High Chaparral did very little wrong at the Co Down venue 10 days ago, he just didn’t have the pace to cope with a horse who ran the last circuit four seconds quicker than any all the other winners on the hurdle track that evening.

Therefore, even though Karl Thornton’s gelding got beat eight lengths, he still ran to a fair level and with his ideal conditions in place this evening, the in-form six-year-old is expected to put up another bold display.