Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Gosheven ran with a decent amount of promise last time out at Chepstow, but whether he deserves to be so short in the betting is open to debate and in any case, I’M WISER NOW (best price 5-1) makes far more appeal at the morning prices – particularly from an each-way stance.

Yet to be out of the frame in all seven completed starts, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding arrives here following another solid placed effort at Hereford last time out when he patently found the two-mile journey way too short even allowing for the testing conditions. A better indication of his true worth stems from his performance on his seasonal reappearance when he finished a respectable third in a hot novices’ hurdle at Wetherby and with the winner, Redford Road going on to score at Grade 2 level two starts later, and likes of Shan Blue and Dhowin both advertising the same form line since, it’s clear that he ran to a pretty high level that day. As two of his best efforts have both taken place on a soft surface, today’s underfoot conditions should prove ideal and hailing from a stable whose runners continue to go well, the son of Presenting is a must for all each-way thieves/place only backers.

Panic Attack is a rare raider from the Willie Mullins’ at this track and clearly deserves the utmost respect, but she will have to be well above average to cope with MIDNIGHT GINGER (best price 5-2) who exhibited a good deal of ability when scoring on her debut at Newbury recently.

Making her opening bow in a well-contested bumper at the Berkshire venue, Alan King’s inmate travelled well throughout and then when asked to go about her business inside the final quarter mile, she quickened smartly to pull clear of her field, including the runner-up who’d had the benefit of a previous outing. Moreover, the third home, Maridadi went on to boost the form in no uncertain terms at Wetherby over the weekend and even though she has to prove herself over an extra half a mile this afternoon, she comes from a family that has plenty of stamina on either side on her pedigree (dam was a winner over 2m2f on the Flat).

Financial Outcome provided Rebecca Curtis with a welcome winner on Monday (had gone 47 days without success) and that victory adds a little more confidence in LEGENDS GOLD (NAP) (best price 5-1) keeping up the good work of the Pembrokeshire handler.

A relatively consistent sort, the daughter of Gold Well arrives here in a bid to cast aside a rare non-podium finish at Cheltenham last time out, but as she was asked to race on the soup around the un-favoured inside part of the track, her performance was probably better than what the bare form suggests. Prior to that creditable effort, the six-year-old mare had once again proven her liking for today’s track (form figures at the Shropshire venue read 231) with a thoroughly convincing display over 2m5f, and having already proven that she stays this extra trip well enough on her only try at three miles, she should go well with crack conditional Ben Jones seen as a massive plus.