Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

DUC DE GRISSAY (best price 5-2) didn’t fare too badly against a high-quality field over today’s C&D last time out and even though he faces a couple of useful opponents again on his return visit to the Gosforth Park venue, he has a better chance of finally getting his head in front.

Still in contention turning for home here 12 days ago, the six-year-old didn’t have the pace to go with the front three once they injected the tempo even further, but he did keep on well to finish a creditable fourth and that has to go down as a fair return from a horse who looks a future three-mile chaser. Unlucky not to score at Kelso the time before when he fell at the last going well, Sandy Thompson’s gelding should be capable of giving a good account on ground and track that suits.

GETAWAY MISSION (NAP) (best price 6-1) could never muster a telling blow in a competitive heat at Hereford last time out, but at the same time, he was by no means disgraced and if he can find just a little more from that initial outing, Ian Williams’ gelding could turn out to be a potent threat in this similar contest.

Making his handicap debut at the Midland track following a 216-day break, it was difficult to know what to expect from the five-year-old who hadn’t shown a massive amount in four previous starts but, in a race run at a cracking gallop – particularly on the final circuit – he did more than enough to suggest he can find his way to the winner’s enclosure off his current mark. Despite that excellent effort, the son of Getaway has actually been dropped in the ratings by the handicapper and it would come as a bit of a surprise if he couldn’t be competitive and hit the first five off a mark of 87 for his local handler.

ROUGH NIGHT (best price 4-1) shaped with more promise than his losing margin suggests on his chase debut at Wincanton and he’s fancied to build on that initial display in this slightly weaker-looking affair.

Held up in what turned out to be an extremely strongly run race at the West Country track, Alex Hales’ gelding made a swift move to latch on to the heels of the leaders rounding the home turn, but from that point onwards the exertions of that big effort off the back of a 311-day layoff took its toll and he eventually faded to get beaten 30 lengths. That said, the first three home all clocked big numbers and are likely to be contesting better races in future, so with his sights lowered here this afternoon and on ground that will mean the rhythm of the race is more to his liking, the strapping son of Doyen can come into his own.