Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Not that many who offer too much upside going forward with the possible exception of ECSTASEA (best price 11-2), and Rae Guest’s filly is worth an interest to see whether she can take advantage of what looks a fair mark on handicap debut.

In deep waters on all three starts to date, she has at least shown a modicum of ability each time, and her latest effort at Chelmsford was probably about the best she could have hoped for given the standard of opposition she faced. Similar comments also apply to the race she contested at Newmarket the time before and given that she managed to finish six lengths behind subsequent easy winner Light And Dark (rated 82 at the time), puts her effort in to some sort of perspective. Although she’s raced over a mile twice and is bred to get further, she’s shown enough pace in all three starts to suggest she’ll be fine over today’s seven-furlong trip and with most of the opposition she faces today either exposed or of a fairly moderate level, it would be somewhat of a disappointment if she wasn’t good enough to make her presence felt representing an in-form stable.

WATCHMAN (best price 8-1) ran a good deal better than his finishing position suggested at Fairyhouse last time out and he rates one of the most intriguing runners in a race that looks up for grabs. Having his first start in handicap company and off the back of a 177-day break, Andy Oliver’s gelding was forced to race wide for the entire contest due to the fact he was posted out in the cheap seats from box 18, so to finish a close up as he did without being subject to anything like a hard ride has to go down as an extremely promising start to life in his new discipline. A Roger Varian castoff who had previously been given three considerate rides on the all-weather at Dundalk to gain a mark over distances from a mile to 1m4f, he may have also found seven-furlongs around sharp track just catching him out last time, but now back over a more suitable trip from a favourable low draw, the son of Oasis Dream can really come to the party.

DREAMWEAVER (best price 3-1) is a really likeable sort and he’s been impressing with the way he’s been going of late and he can continue his progression at a track where he has to be considered a slightly unlucky loser earlier in the season.

Appreciating the step up in trip when a comfortable winner at Goodwood on his opening gambit to the season back in May, Ed Walker’s gelding just got caught out by a poor track position when a staying-on runner-up to Marronnier over today’s C&D two starts ago. Once again really strong in the finish at Haydock last time out, the son of Mastercraftsman looks just the type who will get further in time, but providing they go a decent gallop over the 1m2f trip, his stamina should kick in where it matters most at the business end.

GALEOLA (NAP) (best price 3-1) was half-an-hour the best horse in the race at the Curragh last time out and she’s fancied to back up that view over a track where she’s already enjoyed a fair bit of success. Heading into that contest at the Co Kildare venue with her confidence sky-high thanks to two previous wins, Sheila Lavery’s mare travelled too well for her own good in many respects and that resulted in her hitting the front sooner than ideal. Unable to fend off two deep-closers, she succumbed to the inevitable in the shadows of the post, but she left the impression that there’s still plenty of races to be won with her when she’s ridden with a little more restraint. Back in the hands of stronger handling, the daughter of Galileo will hopefully be put to sleep and settled better and having ran out a very easy winner over the C&D previously, she’s taken to repeat the dose.