Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

An absolute belter of a novices’ chase bringing together a field full of potential for the future and of those could set the pulses racing in this sphere, HILL SIXTEEN (best price 5-1) and SMITHS CROSS (best price 12-1) make the most appeal at the prices this afternoon.

The former ran in some top quality novice hurdle contests last season and acquitted himself with great credit each time. Although he only managed to score once, his victory over the likes of Vis A Vis and subsequent Martin Pipe fourth, Champagne Court, pointed towards a horse who relished a decent gallop over a stiff track so that should stand him in good stead for today. Beaten but not bowed on his final outing of the season in a red-hot handicap hurdle on the figures at Uttoxeter, this former point winner has all the attributes to become a much better chaser and even though today’s trip may just be on the short side, it still looks a good starting point for Sue Smith’s likable grey.

The latter is a little more exuberant than the first selection and that tendency to do everything all on all breath cost him dearly in all three of his races last season. That said, he still ran to a fair level without getting his head in front and there were mitigating circumstances attached too. On his final outing of the campaign, for instance, the son of Westerner was forced to go around the inside on the swamp at Lingfield when all three of his main rivals went wide in search of better ground and you could hardly describe his efforts at Ffos Las and Chepstow prior to that display as modest either. Having had three runs in points – one of which he won – Michael Scudamore’s gelding should know what he’s doing when he sees his first fence in public this afternoon and if he can get into a good early rhythm around a track that rewards good jumping, then it’s likely he will outrun his morning odds.

At this early stage of the season there’s always an element of guesswork involved in the selection process, but should TEGEREK (best price 9-2) be somewhere near peak fitness after his summer sabbatical, he has the sort of qualities to go close in a race of this nature.

Although still yet to win a race over hurdles, on all five starts he exhibited plenty of ability and a repeat of any of those runs will surely be good enough to see him bang on the scene. Arguably the pick of his performances came when he finished just six lengths behind subsequent Neptune third, Bright Forecast, at Leicester back in December, and given that the winner is now rated 149, the son of Mount Nelson’s mark a full 32lb lower will surely be exploited to good effect at some stage this season.

Those who backed SEBASTAPOL (best price 5-2) down to 2-5 favouritism at Ayr when last seen are probably still receiving counselling, but the best remedy for a full recovery is to see Tom Lacey’s powerful gelding bounce back in the best fashion and he’s strongly fancied to do just that.

Impressive in both a point-to-point and bumper alike, the son of Fame And Glory was sent to Cheltenham of all places to make his hurdling debut and although he failed to make the frame at the home of National Hunt racing, he certainly came out of the contest with nothing but credit. Not only did the winner that day, Thomas Derby, go on to finish runner-up in the Supreme Novices Hurdle back at the same track later in the season, the second, Elixir De Nutz, landed the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle among his list of positive results subsequently, so to finish a close up fourth was a more than commendable effort. Undone by a combination of a slow run tactical affair and soft ground at the Scottish venue fully 288-days ago, the five-year-old has been given plenty of time to recover from what’s prevented us from seeing him since and with today’s better conditions much more in his favour, a solid round of jumping should see him vying for top honours on handicap debut.

NED PEPPER (NAP) (best price 7-2) hasn’t been out since seen chasing home the progressive Tavus at Newbury but providing all is well within his world after his 72-day absence, he really ought to be going close here off a mark verging on very lenient.

After only showing little glimpses of ability of his three previous starts, Alan King’s gelding was quite rightly chalked up at 25-1 at the Berkshire track, but having gone through the race like a fair horse and looking likely to win two out, it was only the quality of the eventual winner which prevented his from belying his odds. Looking at the subsequent events of those involved in the shake-up that day, the winner has gone on to much better things and is now rated 78, the third Monsieur Lambrays has scored twice since and is now on a mark of 81 and the fourth and sixth have also won. Moreover, the son of Intello hails from a yard in tremendous form at present and, with the size and scope to no doubt do well at the winter game, he’s fancied to excel on this sort of surface before embarking on a campaign over hurdles.