Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

SOLO SAXOPHONE (best price 7-4) posted some unreal numbers for a horse of his grade at Thirsk nine days ago and with today’s contest looking no greater in every aspect, it will be a huge surprise if he doesn’t dispatch this field of ordinary 0-75 handicappers over a trip that should play even more into his strengths.

Despite winning once over hurdles during the winter, connections of the son of Frankel would have no doubt been a shade disappointed with his overall performance levels at times and, as a result, he was subsequently switched yards to now run in the care of Ben Haslam. Having his first run for the Middleham handler at the Yorkshire venue, the six-year-old was no more than a moderate fancy according to the betting, but what he ended up doing made a total farce of his double-figure starting price. Always moving well in the hands of Paul Mulrennan, he cruised up to the leaders pulling a cart at the three-furlong pole and then once given the signal to stretch, he readily put daylight between himself and his rivals. In doing so, he posted backend split times which were quicker than the five-furlong sprint won by Abate, so it just shows what sort of kick finish he produced. Clearly benefiting from an operation to tweak his wind if the off-season, Solo Saxophone seemed a totally different horse to the one we saw 336 days earlier and providing he doesn’t bounce to the moon following that breath-taking success just over a week ago, a similar performance should see a copy and paste victory.

Both Hosier and ALGAHZAAL (best price 4-1) caught the eye in an above-average maiden at Leopardstown and there’s not a great deal to choose between the pair other than their respective prices here this afternoon, so it makes sense to look towards the one who has been slightly overlooked by the layers.

Slow away at the Dublin track, the son of Teofilo found himself right at the back of the field in the early stages and that still remained the case as the race progressed to the three-furlong pole. From that juncture, Kevin Prendergast’s colt began to make some sort of inroads into the heat of battle and although he was never likely to get to grips with some of the main players who were kicking hard off the front, it was noticeable he proceeded to make some decent late headway in among the pack. Not subject to a hard time, the three-year-old chestnut went through the line strongly in a never-nearer eighth, just two places behind Hosier, and considering he made to make up at least five lengths on today’s market rival, you can see why their respective odds this afternoon appears all out of whack. Sure to have learnt plenty for his initial experience, hopefully a good break second time around will see him right in the thick of the action from an early stage and we know on the evidence of his first outing, he has the ability to mix it with this kind of company once in full cry.

There were two divisions of a 0-59 seven-furlong handicap here last week and quite a few of the main protagonists turn up again seven days on, two of which are PULSATING (best price 7-1) and LA NOVIA (best price 12-1) who were both noted for not getting the clearest of runs at a crucial stage in the first division.

The former was having her first outing for new connections since leaving Gavin Cromwell, and the six-year-old wasn’t particularly fancied, hence her 28-1 starting price, but there was a decent chance she would have made a mockery of those odds had she been able to open up inside the final two furlongs so well was she going just in behind the speed. Unfortunately, a wall of horses ended up preventing her from joining in the fun, but the way she finishing off her race once out in the clear late on strongly suggested she had plenty left to give and that is worth bearing in mind when she tackles similar opponents here today.

It was also a similar story with the latter as she too got no run when seemingly poised to mount a challenge at the two-furlong pole. Having to sit and suffer thereafter, Leanne Brean’s mare came home hard on the bridle without having anything like a hard race and although it’s not always the wisest policy to go overboard with unlucky losers at this sort of level, she’s worth a benefit of the doubt at her morning odds. Moreover, it’s noticeable she has won over the C&D in the past and with her yard having kicked off the season well with Parkers Hill scoring at Naas a few weeks ago, the daughter of Casamento has a better chance than her recent form figures imply.

PRINCESS ZOE (best price 15-8) is turned out quickly following an encouraging display on her first start for new connections at Navan on Tuesday and that bold stance looks set to be rewarded to maximum effect.

Well-backed at the Co Meath venue to make a winning Irish debut, Anthony Mullins’ mare found herself in a terrible position as the field turned for home and despite a valiant effort to claw back the deficit in the final three furlongs, she couldn’t quite reel in the similarly strongly fancied Walking On Grass, who was much better positioned throughout. The mere fact she managed to run past 14 of her rivals in a short space of time and pull clear of them all late on strongly suggests those who backed her two days ago were bang on the money and with today’s contest looking a slightly weaker one on paper, hopefully the daughter of Jukebox Jury will end this frustrating runs of seconds.

There’s more than a fair chance Theheartneverlies could prove to be another Sir Mark Prescott three-year-old blot on the handicap and while that may turn out to be the case, MONSARAZ (best price 13-2) should at least be capable of holding his own with fitness on his side.

Slightly disappointing in several outings as a two-year-old, the son of Cityscape was having just his third start in handicap company at Chelmsford nine days ago and whether it was the break of 131 days that did the trick, you’d have to say he ran out quite an impressive winner. Switched off at the back of the pack, James Given’s gelding was produced with his run rounding the home turn and sustaining his powerful charge all the way down the straight, he ran by virtually the entire field within the space of three furlongs. Clocking a smart speed figure for the grade, the three-year-old strongly suggested he’s one to keep on side for the foreseeable future and even though it’s a bit of a guessing game knowing whether he will translate the same level of form to turf, hopefully there won’t be too many issues on that score.