Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

LIKE AN OPEN BOOK (best price 18-1) hasn’t won for a while, but she has been up against tough opposition in recent times and, with her sights lowered to a more realistic level here this afternoon, there’s fair chance that Johnny Burke’s mare can easily outrun her crazy morning odds.

No match for the likes of Darver Star and Davids Charm on her last two starts, the daughter of Well Chosen is better judged on her performances in mares’ only handicaps in the past and by and large, she’s always run to a fair level. Her third in a competitive contest at the Galway Festival back in August reads well in the context of today’s race and that’s just one of the lines of form that gives her a fighting chance. Despite a slight question mark over today’s trip (she has run well over 2m3f in the past), at least she has plenty of solid form at today’s track to counterbalance that negative and at 20-1, she has to be worth a small shy at the stumps.

VIENNA COURT (best price 8-1) probably lacks the sexiness of the big two in the market, but she displayed a very willing attitude in beating a useful field at Ffos Las on her hurdles debut and she should be good enough to hit the frame at the very least.

Seemingly unfancied on her hurdles debut at the Welsh venue 19 days ago, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ filly belied her market position with a surprisingly-good display and the way she stayed on in the closing stages suggests there should be more to come. Moreover, along with the time figure being good, both Rosie and Millie and Nikap have boosted the form since and with heavy overnight rain likely to have eased the ground in her favour, she rates a tidy each-way option with hopefully all eight runners going to post. Of the front two in the betting, Floressa really impressed with her slick jumping technique when scoring with a ton in hand at Worcester and she looks a worthy favourite despite the presence of the equally-promising Silver Forever being in the field. Decent race.

Competitive stuff but, should LIVE IN THE MOMENT (best price 14-1) run to the level he has on his last three starts then he looks sure to feature more prominently than his market position indicates.

A respectable fourth in a hot novice event on the figures at Newbury behind subsequent winner Smokey Bear, Adam West’s inmate then only narrowly failed to take advantage of what appeared a fair mark on handicap debut at Bath next time. Running off the same rating at Southwell last time out, the son of Zebedee cut out a strong pace until picked off by the giant Bill The Butcher in the latter stages, but as the time figure pointing towards the race being an above-average one for the grade at the Midland venue, it was clearly another sound effort by the likable gelding. Clearly just as at home on an all-weather terrain than on turf, the chestnut two-year-old should be capable of making some sort of impact based on the numbers he’s been posting against sterner opposition than what he faces tonight.

ROYAL CONTEXT (best price 9-2) may have a penalty to carry, but the mere fact that he’s already raced on today’s surface should count for more than the bare weights and measures and he rates a rock-solid each-way play at the morning odds.

Michael Dodds’ inmate first tasted the fibresand surface when a close-up fourth behind the useful Maystar on debut and he quickly put that experience to good use over a furlong further next time out, staying on strongly to account for a 13-strong field. The combination of tactical speed for five-furlongs and stamina needed for the extra yardage should stand him in good stead and the son of Acclamation will be hard to kick out of the frame using all the points raised.

HAREEM QUEEN (NAP) (best price 9-4) posted some pretty smart numbers when landing a maiden over the C&D last time out and she’s fancied to repeat the dose even though today’s contest is a much sterner test on paper.

Promising on her first two starts on turf, Karl Burke’s filly was well-backed to make a successful all-weather debut here a few weeks ago and having travelled well throughout, she readily justified her position in the market. Showing a good cruising speed throughout, which is key ingredient to success over the C&D, the daughter of Dark Angel posted a big number in the process and having bagged the potentially favourable inside draw (low numbers best here recently), she should get clear water to run at over on the far side.