Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Space Walk ran out a game winner at Haydock last time out, but it’s hard to see what he did that day would be good enough to make him a 11-10 poke against the standard of opposition he faces this evening and he’s readily passed over at the prices in favour of JUST HUBERT (best price 8-1) and STATE OF AFFAIR (best price 8-1).

The former had the misfortune to bump into the highly promising Logician at Newbury two starts ago, but he didn’t waste anytime in taking advantage of a drop down in grade when scoring in game fashion at Ripon next time. On the evidence of his performance at the Yorkshire track, the strong part of his game seemed to be his stamina, so with tonight’s step up in trip on a stiff track likely to suit, William Muir’s colt can really come into his own.

The latter also seemed to appreciate a stamina test at Haydock last time out as the speed figure he posted in victory suggested they’d gone a good gallop. Needing every yard of the 1m4f trip, Ed Walker’s colt just got up in the dying strides to get the better of the strongly-fancied Starczewski and with the fourth horse home, Battle Of Wills, franking the form with a win at Ripon over the weekend, there’s every reason to believe the strength of the numbers he achieved.

The fillies’ novice contest over a mile at Newmarket on June 28 looked an above-average affair and having shaped well to finish a never-nearer fourth, DARYANA (best price 5-1) rates more than an interesting runner on handicap debut here.

In a well-run contest on the July Course, Eve Johnson Houghton’s filly looked to be going nowhere fast as the field headed past the two-furlong pole, but once meeting the rising ground she really impressed with the way she finished off her race. Hitting the line strong, she left the distinct impression that a much stiffer test will suit further down the line, so tonight’s 1m2f trip at a track with it’s renown climb to the line should prove ideal for the daughter of Dutch Art.

The decision to award ATALANTA’S BOY (best price 11-4) with the race at Goodwood last time out was a controversial and undeserved one in many respects, but either way, his performance on the clock at the Sussex venue still pointed towards an improving sprinter that has the look of a horse ahead of his mark at present and he should be followed accordingly.

Patently not seeing out the seven-furlong trip when ridden prominently over today’s course previously, David Menuisier’s gelding seemed much more at home when dropped out over the shorter distance 63 days ago and it’s good to see connections working on that theory here this afternoon. Nicely drawn in the centre of the pack, hopefully the son of Paco’s Boy will be switched off towards the rear before being delivered with a knockout blow late on over a track that time and time again has proven that hold-ups horses have a significant edge.

Just a handful of pattern-race form to consider, but those who’ve shown promise in maidens look a more promising bunch and of those, UNFORGETTABLE (best price 9-1) and SCHRODERS MISTAKE (best price 40-1) make the most appeal at the prices.

The former ran an encouraging race on her debut at Naas and duly improved upon that opening effort with a far more polished display at Fairyhouse last time out. Always travelling nicely just behind the speed, Joseph O’Brien’s filly picked up the running going well two out and even though several threatened her superiority late on, she had plenty left in the tank to pull clear in ready fashion. Clocking a decent speed figure into the bargain, the daughter of Muhaarar went a long way to show that a well-run affair is well within her range and providing she jumps well and holds her place from her inside draw in stall one, she should put herself in a position where she can be competitive in the run for home.

The latter was only fourth in a maiden over tonight’s course on debut and while she has plenty to find strictly on the level of that form, she did more than enough to suggest connections haven’t completely lost the plot in pitching her into this sort of class after just the one run. Towards the rear through the early exchanges, Ken Condon’s filly impressed by the way she finished off her race in the closing stages and looking the type who will benefit greatly from that initial experience, she has to be worth a small each-way interest at her massive morning odds.

SOUTH SEA PEARL (NAP) (best price 15-8) left the distinct impression she would have gone close to winning here last time with a clear run and she rates a strong fancy to vindicate that view on her return visit to the Dublin-based track.

Pocketed on the inside as the field turn for home 14 days ago, Aidan O’Brien’s filly never had any chance of working up a proper head of steam throughout the final two furlongs, as the gaps simply never came, and in finishing the race hard on the bridle in fourth, she had to be marked up as an unlucky loser. Hopefully this evening, Ryan Moore will give his mount plenty of time to work her way into top gear before it’s too late and this stoutly-bred and lightly-raced three-year-old can take this prize before stiffer assignments present themselves towards the backend of the season (entered in the Group 1 St Leger).