Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

KISSESFORKATIE (NAP) (best price 7-4) is still searching for her first win over hurdles, but today’s contest represents her best opportunity to break that duck and she can provide her in-form handler with another success at his local track.

A winner of a bumper at Fotwell last year, Jeremy Scott’s mare has gone in search of another victory in six starts since and although she’s brought home plenty of place prize money, she’s just come up short against a pretty high level of competition. No match for the likes of subsequent winners, Silver Forever and Queens Cave at Chepstow on her seasonal reappearance, the daughter of Jeremy was in just as deep last time out at Exeter behind the potentially top-class Sporting John at Exeter, but with the time figure very good and the fifth home, Eritage, going on to score next time out, it’s clear the form is extremely useful for the grade. Unless something takes a huge leap forward from what they’ve shown so far, the five-year-old has a big class edge in her favour and it would be disappointing if she couldn’t take advantage.

COPPERHEAD (best price 11-2) shaped pretty well in a hot novices’ handicap on chasing debut at Chepstow last time out and he wouldn’t have to raise his game too significantly to be a factor in these slightly less choppy waters.

A progressive handicapper over hurdles towards the backend of last season, Colin Tizzard’s gelding was quietly fancied to make an impact on his first start over fences at the Welsh venue two months ago and although he held every chance turning for home, he didn’t have the pace to go with the big players who really turned it on from four out. Not knocked about once his winning chance had gone, the son of Sulamani was allowed to come home at his own leisure and with that initial outing likely to have put an edge on him both mentally and physically, he should be capable of holding his own with a clear round.

ROCK SOUND (best price 11-4) clocked a decent time figure for the grade here last time out and a repeat of the same level of form should see him going close to following up despite the hefty rise in the ratings.

Formerly with Dermot Weld in Ireland, the four-year-old came in for heavy support on his first start for new connection here a month ago and having tracked the leaders going well down to two out, he quickened up well to land the gamble with something to spare. Very strong in the latter stages, the son of Lope De Vega managed to run the last three furlongs in an eye-popping 35.9 and, going through the beam with his ears pricked, there’s every chance that there will be plenty more to come from this lightly-raced gelding.

There are two things that are crucial over the five-furlong track here, a good break and currently a low draw, and as LOULIN (best price 5-1) ran well despite not having either of those positives going in his direction last time out, he should turn out to be a major threat with more in his favour on his return visit.

Housed towards the nearside rail in stall 10, Ruth Carr’s gelding proceeded to bobble coming out of the gates and although he showed good speed to race prominently down to halfway, he always seemed to be fighting a losing battle against the main three in the betting who came out of traps 1,2 and 3. He did, however, keep on stoically to come out on top of those positioned towards the stands side, so his performance in finishing fourth deserves a good deal of praise. Prior to that sound effort, a better break and track position down the centre saw the son of Exceed And Excel gain the day in a similar class 6 event over the same C&D and a cut and paste of that display should see him bang on the premises here this evening.