Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

A maiden hurdle with a few unknown quantities which makes life tricky for punters, but CAPILANO BRIDGE (best price 6-1) looks almost certain to run his race based on recent exploits and he rates a cast-iron each-play play at his morning odds.

Placed in three of his four attempts over hurdles so far, Conor O’Dwyer’s gelding recorded his best performance on the numbers when a creditable third at Wexford last time out and that was despite a bad mistake at the second last. Although that error cost him the race, he may have finished ahead of subsequent winner Place Des Vosges and that represents a fair level of form in context of today’s race. Comfortable on heavy ground and stepping up to a trip that should suit, the son of Stowaway should put up a bold bid in his bid to finally get off the mark.

ONEMOREFORTHEROAD (best price 9-4) got off the mark at the third time of asking in a bumper at Newton Abbot last time out and he’s strongly fancied to carry that same level of form into his new discipline here this afternoon.

Despite being sent off 14-1 at the West Country venue, Neil King’s gelding was always travelling better than his odds suggested and once he arrived on the scene going easily, it soon became apparent that he was going to get the better of some fairly highly-regarded opponents. Staying on strongly in the latter stages without being hard pressed to do so, the son five-year-old also posted a time figure which suggested it was a fair race of its kind and with today’s conditions likely to allow his flowing action to flourish, it would be a shock if he wasn’t a major contender in a race of this nature with a clear round of jumping.

The novices’ handicap chase won by Demachine was noted for its strong time figure and with the race already beginning to take shape thanks to many of its participants franking the form since, confidence is high that CHECKITOUT (NAP) (best price 15-8) can do his bit for the race at Uttoxeter 27 days ago.

As the likes of Morning Oscar, Canelo, Mahlervous and Northofthewall have already proven, the race at the Midland track was not only extremely solid in terms of its competitiveness, the gallop set was honest right from the start, so the fact the son of Salutino was one of the stronger finishers in the latter stages suggests he has a fair engine. As he was also having his first outing for 321 days and for his new stable, one can anticipate a fair degree of improvement and with today’s overall competition – other than Don Lami – looking decidedly weaker, the six-year-old can take advantage of his apparent class edge.

EYES (best price 3-1) very much caught the eye with the way she finished off her race over tonight’s C&D last time out and having been handed a much better draw this time around, a better break and more prominent early position should result in Jamie Osbourne’s filly going close to shedding her maiden tag.

A little unlucky the time before over the extended mile at Wolverhampton, the daughter of Dandy Man was tried over two furlongs further at the Essex track and on the evidence of what we witnessed 21 days ago, that move could turn out to be an inspired decision going forward. Last as the field past the three-furlong pole, she flew home down the outside in the straight to finish a never-nearer fifth and with a similar set of opponents the order of the day on her return visit, only something crazy happening can prevent her from being a massive player in the final outcome.