Andy Holding's Thursday's Racing Tips

As we saw the other night for the umpteenth time at the track this season, a low drawn horses in the shape of Mulzim and Red Stripes (stall one beat stall two) dominated a five-furlong contest and the same scenario could well pan out again as the in-form pair, HEY HO LET’S GO (best price 7-2) and FILBERT STREET (best price 9-1) look poised to take advantage of stalls one and three respectively.

The former has yet to win in 12 starts up to now, but it has to be said he hasn’t had a desperate amount of luck in recent times, including all three attempts over today’s C&D when genuine excuses could be made for each defeat. A slow start was compounded by his rider dropping her whip with 100 yards to race on his first try on the fibresand back in November and then he had the misfortune to be carried over on to the far rail in his next quest for success on his first outing for new connections. Despite being handed the infamous coffin box of stall 11 of 11 on his latest escapade, the son of Dream Ahead still managed to put a bold show and in coming out clear best of those that raced up the slower stands’ side rail, he strongly suggested he remains a winner waiting to happen here with a better draw and the right rub of the green. Housed next to the likes of First Excel, Loulin and Moveonup who all like to push forward, Mark Hoad’s gelding should get the perfect tow into the race over on the far side and with the quicker strip of ground usually coming to the fore inside the final two furlongs, hopefully he will be in a decent enough position to capitalise.

The latter has run a good bit better than his last two starts at today’s track suggest and he’s worth a small saver just in case he pops out of the gate better than he did last time. Well-backed from 14-1 into 11-2 15 days ago, Roy Brotherton’s inmate blew any chance he may have had by completely fluffing the start, and in the circumstances, he did remarkably well to finish a relatively close-up sixth considering he was miles behind after a furlong. Coming out best of those draw high (14 of 14) on his previous outing over the same C&D back in November, it’s worth noting that the son of Poet’s Voice was a comfortable winner for old connections here the time before and now back off a similar mark on his return visit, there’s every chance he will go better than a 20-1 chance if he breaks on terms.

A quality line-up for a race of its kind and one of the most progressive performers in the field, ESPOIR DE ROMAY (best price 16-5), should be good enough to make his presence felt off what appears to be a fair mark on handicap debut.

Making virtually all the running to succeed on his first outing for 232 days at Warwick back in November, Kim Bailey’s inmate took the notable scalps of West Cork, Hometown Boy and Kalooki and with all three going on to boost the form subsequently, it’s pretty clear the race in question at the Midland venue was well above average. Well-backed to repeat the dose in a useful novice venet at Newcastle, the son of Kap Rock on just succumbed to the strongly-staying pair Prince Kayf and Imperial Alcazar in the dying strides on extremely testing ground, but even so, that effort still represents a decent level of form considering what that pair have gone on to achieve since. Back in trip on slightly better ground here today’s, hopefully the six-year-old doesn’t become embroiled in an unnecessary joust for the lead with Earth Moor, and if so, there’s fair chance he’ll be competitive at the business end.

BAJAN EXCELL (best price 2-1) has shown a fair level of ability and aptitude for his new discipline and with having track experience under his belt courtesy of a C&D victory a month ago seen as a massive plus, Gavin Cromwell gelding is fancied to press home that advantage.

A winner on the Flat here over 1m3f in the Autumn, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding maintained his 100% record at the track when landing a maiden hurdle in gritty fashion a month ago and that form looks pretty solid in the context of today’s race (Café Con Leche back in third). Badly hampered at a crucial stage in a much better race at Gowran last time, the son of Helmet at least kept on well enough in the latter stages to claim a podium finish, and with today’s heavy ground conditions very much in his favour, the four-year-old chestnut is fancied to shrug aside top weight.

SIMSIR (best price 5-2) ran a massive race on his UAE debut 14 days ago and with expected improvement to come, Micky Halford’s gelding is a strong choice to take advantage of a favourable inside draw. Winner of his first two starts in Ireland, the son of Zoffany narrowly failed to complete the hat trick when returning to the scene of one of his victories at Dundalk, but that effort clearly convinced connections that he was ready for a shot at something bigger. Sent off 7-2 favourite for a competitive listed handicap over 1m2f, the four-year-old was settled nicely in a decent position just off the pace in the early stages, but as the tempo increased turning for home, he got stuck in behind a wall of horses and it took him a while to wriggle himself free. Once out in the clear he came home to such effect he left the impression he would have prevailed with a smoother passage and hailing from a yard that has done well with similar types in the desert over the years, this progressive individual can capture this prize before maybe having a tile at pattern company later in the carnival.