Goodwood Tips: Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

The form of the Epsom Derby gets put under the microscope here with English King and Khalifa Set flying the flag for the world’s oldest Classic and while both have to be hugely respected based on their exploits for very different reasons at the Surrey venue, they have a real fight on their hands taking on the ultra-progressive AL AASY (best price 9-2).

Well put in his place on his seasonal return when only fifth behind Mishriff at Newmarket, that time form and time figure, however, has worked out so well since it is now easy to understand why William Haggas’ colt wasn’t quite able to keep up with the main players at HQ over a 1m2f on fast ground. Since upped in trip, the son of Sea The Stars has really come into his own and his victory over on the July Course last time out marked him down as a possible St Leger candidate later in the season. In overcoming the well-backed and positively-ridden Dawn Rising, who also grabbed the favoured nearside rail, the imposing three-year-old outstayed his main market rival in convincing fashion and with the fifth and sixth both running well in a hot handicap here yesterday, the form is already beginning to take shape. A sweet traveller with speed and stamina in equal measures, the numbers strongly suggest this fella has been underestimated in the market.

VERY EXCELLENT (best price 5-1) got off the mark over hurdles at the sixth time of asking in pretty impressive fashion at Bellewstown last time out and with his confidence bound to have been buoyed by the ease of victory, Andrew McNamara’s gelding is fancied to carry forward his overall wellbeing into this tougher assignment.

Running consistently well without getting his head in front, the son of Casamento was well-backed to finally shed his maiden tag on his first outing for 190 days and after travelling best throughout, he delivered the goods in no uncertain terms. Clocking a useful speed figure, the four-year-old gelled nicely with new pilot Brian Cooper and having run well on his only previous visit to today’s course last season, another big run looks on the cards for this sweet-moving chestnut.

There’s no denying the obvious claims of Winter Power following his saunter at Redcar the other day, bit this task looks a far greater one in every aspect and in the shape ACKLAM EXPRESS (best price 11-2) for one, he faces an opponent who arrives here primed and ready to give the favourite plenty to think about at the very least.

Looking in need of the experience when a creditable third at Beverley on debut, Nigel Tinkler’s gelding showed the benefit of that initial outing on his latest effort at Hamilton by running out an impressive winner and with the time figure and opposition he beat suggesting he’d made a huge stride forward, the logical choice is to find out whether he’s ready for the next level. Likely to be dropped out towards the rear early in order to preserve his energy for the latter stages, expect his useful turn of foot to see him catapult him into the thick end of the action.

DIME A DOZEN (NAP) (best price 11-4) just needed one run under her belt over fences before she struck oil at Tipperary last time out and her performance was so good, she rates a confident vote to dish out the same sort of beating to tonight’s rivals.

An ultra-consistent mare in all formats of the game prior to making her chasing debut at Killarney a month ago, Shark Hanlon’s inmate made a thoroughly satisfactory start to her new discipline by chasing home the very smart La Sorelita and it was no great surprise to see her piece all the knowledge she gathered at the Co Kerry venue when going one place better 12 days later. Apart from two clumsy mistakes at the same open ditch on each circuit, the daughter of Jeremy jumped pretty well on the whole, and in maintaining a really strong gallop from the outset to readily see off the challenge of the well-fancied Popong, it came as no surprise to find out that she’d clocked a big number for a beginners chase in the final analysis. Likely to be given a similar position ride to take full advantage of her stamina (dual point-to-point winner) this likeable mare can get her ebullient handler off the mark for the meeting he loves so well.

Willie Mullins went a long while between drinks before winning this race again twice in recent times (20-year gap) but now he’s got reacquainted with a taste of the black stuff, the Guinness Galway Hurdle could be winging its way back to Closutton courtesy of either BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP (best price 17-2) or MT LEINSTER (best price 14-1).

The former has to be one of the most talented yet frustrating two-mile handicap hurdlers in training but at the same time, it would come as no surprise if her name was etched on the side of one of these big trophies sooner rather than later. One of the abiding memories of the final day of last season’s Cheltenham Festival was the way the daughter of Sixties Icon came on the scene swinging on the bridle on the run down to the last only for her to exercise her right not to find as much as anticipated on the long pull up the hill. Runner-up in four big premier handicaps on the Flat last season there’s a little bit of a theme is clearly gathering to suggest she’s not the most reliable in a finish, but it’s also hard not to see her having some sort of say in the final reckoning. Either way, with most firms offering five places (some going six) and her odds being big enough to make a nice profit if she, as expected, makes the frame, the fun part will be to see whether she has the gumption to finally seal the deal and land a pot her endeavours over the last season or two deserves. She’s also worth serious consideration in the place only exotic markets.

The latter is also a very talented lad at his best and arriving here with his confidence at a fairly high level courtesy of a straightforward victory on the Flat here two days ago, he looks primed to do battle again. Not quite good enough for Grade 1 company over hurdles just yet, the son of Beat Hollow, however, has shown a decent level of form either side of his disappointing run behind Asterion Collonges at Leopardstown back in February and even though stable jockey Paul Townend has deserted him in favour of Buildmeupbuttercup, he’s still likely to give stand in pilot Danny Mullins one hell of a spin.

BROGINE (best price 10-1) wasn’t quite good enough to cope with Gunfire Reef over fences at Tipperary last time out but considering what Mags Mullins’ gelding has gone on to achieved next time (won by a distance), tonight’s task appears a good deal easier in comparison. In cracking form last season with two impressive wins in May, the son of Milan subsequently lost his way, so it was good to see him come back to something approaching his best after a 269-day break. Suited by exaggerated waiting tactics, expect the 10-year-old to be put to sleep in the rear for the first two circuits before being brought with hopefully a well-timed challenge late on.