Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Enbihaar is a really likeable mare that is seemingly still on the upgrade, but at the same time, she won’t find life easy up against similar improving type DAME MALLIOT (best price 2-1), and Ed Vaughan’s filly gains the vote.

Bred to stay middle distances, it was no surprise to see the daughter of Champs Elysees make her debut over the extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton on her only start at two and having come through that examination in flying colours, the future looked bright for a good, solid three-year-old campaign. True to pedigree, she just lacked for a bit of tactical speed up against the pacier Whimbrel on her seasonal return at Chelmsford, but since she’s stepped up in trip by connections, she’s really gone on the rampage. Really impressive when taking apart a good field of fillies in a listed race at Newmarket next time, the heavy ground wouldn’t have suited her as well at Deauville last time, but the fact that she still came through and gain the day in a driving finish is testimony to her courage. Back on better ground today and likely to be extremely well suited by the extra trip and galloping nature of the track, this likeable and scopey filly should be in her element and she’s expected to handle whatever Enbihaar is likely to throw at her.

Modest stuff and it’s a race well within the capabilities of SHERANDA (best price 5-2) based on her encouraging debut effort at Cork recently. Well found in the market beforehand, a big performance was clearly expected of Dermot Weld’s filly, and although she could only manage fifth in a field of 17, that doesn’t really tell the whole story. Since Cork have laid their new straight course, high numbers have had a huge advantage, so the fact that the daughter of Siyouni was the only one drawn on the far side to offer any sort of resistance to those housed towards the stands’ side rail, suggests she ran a good deal better than the bare result indicates. Bred to get further, today’s extra distance should help and likely to also be a good deal sharper in all departments, Sheranda makes plenty of appeal in a race not exactly brimming with too much potential.

LUCKY LOUIE (best price 18-1) has been largely campaigned over further in recent times, but he’s often shaped like he’s worth another try over six-furlongs and he’s fancied back up that theory despite his morning odds suggesting otherwise.

The biggest indicator this might prove to be the case comes from his run here over 7f back in June when he swept to the front ravelling well with a furlong to run only to be run out of the argument in the final strides by the fast-finishing Athollblair Boy. However, that effort did see his Town Moor stats reach an impressive reading of 22523 and with these kind of events often falling apart in the latter stages due to the incorrect fractions being set up front through the first few furlongs – even more so over today’s C&D – he’s just the type to be picking up the pieces late on to make the frame at the very least.

BALLYOISIN (NAP) (best price 9-4) took advantage of a lenient handicap mark when capturing this prize last season and following an ideal preparation over fences at Killarney last time out, Enda Bolger’s charge rates a strong choice to repeat the dose.

A very smart chaser, the eight-year-old looked as good as ever at the Co Kenny track 20 days ago when, despite racing with the choke out through the early exchanges, he still had the class to see off several late challengers in the final half a mile – many of whom had the benefit of fitness on their side. A whopping 26lb lower over hurdles, the son of Presenting has all the requisite skills for a race of this nature, mainly a high cruising speed and sound jumping technique, and with conditions to suit (soft when he scored last year), it would be something of a disappointment in he couldn’t go back-to-back.

GOOD BIRTHDAY (best price 9-4) couldn’t arrive her in any better shape and he’s taken to come out best of the battle between the big two three-year-olds down the front end of the market.

Impressive both visually and on the clock when he made a winning reappearance over today’s C&D back in March and although he had to wait the thick end of five months before supplementing that victory, some of his performances in defeat have been in extremely hot three-year-old handicaps. Not quite staying the trip in the King George Handicap at Royal Ascot, his efforts in the London Gold Cup (race that worked out well subsequently) and the bet365 Handicap at Newmarket over 1m2f respectively when badly drawn each time, see the son of Dabirsim in a better light than the bare results have suggested. Back on track with a cosy success at Beverley 12 days ago, Andrew Balding’s colt has invaluable track form in his favour and, just as importantly, is guaranteed to stay, where his main market rival, Davydenko, has yet to prove himself in that department.