Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

PORTSTORM (best price 11-4) gave backers of hot-pot Escaria Ten heart failure at Ayr last time out and with the time figure of that race suggesting there was no fluke about the performance, Ian Duncan’s gelding is fancied to make the most of what appears a fair mark on handicap debut.

Yet to win in seven starts, the son of Shirocco has certainly been knocking on the door and that effort at the Scottish track has to go down a career high. Noted travelling well in behind the even tempo 46 days ago, the five-year-old was still going strongly on the run down to the last only to find the extra quality and superior strength of the favourite too much to handle on the run-in. That said, the pair pulled miles clear of the rest, including previous winner and well-backed second favourite, Empire Steel, and with today’s testing conditions unlikely to pose too much of a problem based on his previous performances, he has a decent chance of finally getting off the mark.

DOC SPORTELLO (NAP) (best price 9-4) did precious little wrong when just getting the worst of the argument behind the rapidly-improving National Anthem over today’s C&D last time out and with that initial performance on the surface suggesting he’s equally at home on the fibresand than the grass, the eight-year-old can provide his in-form handler with yet another winner.

A winner on the turf towards the backend on last Flat season, Tony Carroll’s gelding came back to something close to that form when a strong-finishing third in a decent Class 3 contest at Newcastle on his penultimate outing and that effort was a precursor to what took place at the Midland venue 10 days ago. Breaking cleanly to race up with the fast pace set by the eventual winner, the son of Majestic Missile pushed his main market rival hard all the way to the line and had he not been carried over on to the slower part of the track up the far side rail, the result may have turned out differently. Moreover, the time figure strongly suggested the race in question was one of the better sprint contests run at the track in recent times and with a drop down in class also a welcome relief, the fairly lightly-raced gelding should go close to recording career win number six.

It’s extremely doubtful any of today’s field would have run to the standard BRAESIDE (best price 5-2) achieved in the William Fry Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out and for that reason, Gordon Elliot’s top-weight rates a strong choice to stamp home his class edge.

A novice on the improve courtesy of his run behind Albert Bartlett second favourite, Monkfish, at Fairyhouse back in December, the son of Presenting gained his due rewards for consistency with a deserved success at the same track a month later. Pitched into that hot handicap at the Dublin venue last time out, the six-year-old kept on valiantly to finish a creditable sixth against some pretty smart staying handicappers and if it wasn’t for being involved in the scrimmaging four and a mistake three out, he may have finished a good deal closer. A proper dyed-in-the-wool stayer, Braeside has plenty in his favour to give him a relatively confident vote.

Kim Bailey has a fair record in bumpers over the years and he looks to have a decent chance of adding another to his collection in the shape of BOBHOPEORNOHOPE (best price 5-1).

An Irish point winner on soft ground last April, the son of Westerner was well-backed to make a successful rules debut at Taunton two months ago and although he failed to his bid to justify in position in the market, he still came out of the race with great credit. Setting a reasonable pace considering the testing conditions, the five-year-old only relinquished his advantage in the closing stages and with the front three pulling well clear of the rest, it probably wasn’t a bad race of its kind. Despite the prospect of facing several similarly potential useful performers, this six-figure purchase should go a long way to justify his price tag at some stage and today could well be the beginning of a fruitful career.