Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

DANA FOREVER (best price 15-8) has caught the eye on her last two starts, finishing off her races very strongly and with today’s galloping track likely to put an emphasis on stamina rather than winging around the tight bends of Wolverhampton, Tom Dascombe’s filly is fancied to make it fourth time lucky.

Outpaced until running on with plenty of purpose in the latter stages at the Dunstall Park venue behind the useful X Force two starts ago, the same fate awaited the daughter of Requinto when upped in trip back at the same track 17 days ago. Based on the time figures that day, however, she does appear to be moving in the right direction and with today’s contest not the strongest in terms of unexposed dangerous floaters, it would be disappointing if she couldn’t take advantage.

There was a lot to like about the way PANIC ROOM (best price 6-1) shaped on debut at Nottingham 13 days ago and with that all-important run under his belt, a big step forward is anticipated from Tom Dascombe’s colt. Unfancied in the market, the son of Cappella Sanservero’s odds probably tripled within the space of a furlong after his jumped out to his left leaving the gates and was slowly into stride during the early exchanges. Taking a while for the penny to drop, he did, however, pick up pleasingly in the final two furlongs to finish a never-nearer third at the line and with the time figure suggesting it was a pretty useful one for juveniles, he clearly ran to a fair standard on his opening bow. Sure to be more clued-up second time around, this substantially-sized colt should appreciate both the stiffer track and ease in the ground and he makes plenty of each-way appeal at the morning prices.

Improving three-year-old stayers at this time of year often come into their own against their older counterparts and of the four that represent the Classic generation, TAVUS (NAP) (best price 5-4) makes the most appeal.

Just a modicum of ability was forthcoming from his first three starts, but since he’s been given a break and stepped up in trip, Roger Charlton’s gelding has really started to come into his own. A couple of placed efforts served notice that better times were ahead and facing 1m4f for the first time at Newbury 23 days ago, he proved equal to the task. Off the back of strong fractions for the grade, the son of Pour Moi stayed on with plenty of purpose at the business and with his backend sectionals also reading well compared to Richie Valens (rated 76) over a similar trip, it’s clear that he ran a good bit better than a rating of 60. Surprisingly only raised 5lb for that cosy success, Tavus still looks on the right side of the assessor and with an extra two furlongs threatening to bring about even further improvement, he rates a solid choice to dominate predominately a field of thoroughly exposed handicappers.

Havingagoodtime sets the standard courtesy of her victory in a Grade 3 contest at Cheltenham, but she’s struggled to run to that level on her last two starts (beaten when main market rival fell two out at Down Royal) and she faces several opponents, including the improving CAER (best price 2-1), that will be waiting in the wings to pounce should she fail to raise her game.

A cosy winner of a bumper at Roscommon back in July, the daughter of Winged Love was in the process of running a big race at Galway herself when capsizing four from home, but she didn’t have to wait too long for compensation. Dusting herself down, she clearly suffered no ill effects from that tumble by bolting up at Sligo last time out and the fact that she made the strongly-fancied Bronagh’s Belle look quite pedestrian it testimony to her qualities. Likely to be ridden fairly handily – which isn’t a bad tactic around this sharp track – Noel Meade’s charge can provide the favourite all the trouble she can handle.

Quite a few possibilities in this competitive-looking three-year-old handicap but the vote goes in favour of LILY LILY ROSE (best price 5-1) who arrives here off the back of a career-high effort at Naas last time out. As is sometimes the case on the straight course at the Co Kildare venue, the high numbers can hold a significant advantage and that track bias ended up counting against the daughter of Intikhab 24 days ago. Drawn right on the inside in stall one, she was rowing against the tide from a very early stage as it was clear from halfway that those towards the stands side held sway, but to her ultimate credit she boxed on in game fashion all the way to the line to gain a small slice of the pie. Moreover, Aidan Howard’s filly finished miles clear of all the other low drawn horses, so there’s a serious case to be made to upgrade her performance and with tonight’s trip threatening to bring about further improvement, tonight could well be the first time she strikes gold.

NEAR KETTERING (best price 4-1) has fairly disappointing form figures over hurdles, but seemingly revitalised based on his recent performance on the level, Sam England’s gelding can make hay off what appears an attractive mark.

Impeded by dodgy wind in the past, the son of Medicean has taken a while for surgery to correct the issue but, after a little time off and no doubt a good deal of work at home, the patience finally paid off at Thirsk 13 days ago. Backed from 40-1 into 9-2, the gamble always looked in safe-keeping and given how well he hit the line that day, all his troubles seem behind him. Returning to hurdles off a 3lb lower mark than when last seen in this discipline at Hexham in May, it’s safe to say we should see a much more rounded effort by the five-year-old.