Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Perfect Swiss looked good when winning by a wide margin here the day and is bound to attract all the pre-race attention, but as his time figure wasn’t anything to get too wild about and he’s been strangled to death in the market, the value lies elsewhere in the shape of course regular FIELDSMAN (best price 10-1).

Twice a winner during the winter period at the Midland venue, Tony Carroll’s gelding produced one of his better performances here two starts ago when staying on strongly in the hands of today’s pilot to lower the colours of some strongly-fancied and in-form rivals. Dropping back in trip and upped significantly into Class 3 grade last time out, the son of Hard Spun unsurprisingly found everything happening a little too quickly for him against a much better standard of opponent and, as a result, he could only manage to finish fifth of the seven-runner field. That said, it still wasn’t a bad effort in the context of today’s race and now with his sights lowered again and racing back over his optimum trip, a wide draw in stall out eight should end up being perfect for a horse who likes to race away from his rivals and out of the kickback (drawn nine of 10 when he won two starts ago).

TEN CHANTS (NAP) (best price 6-4) hails from a stable who, as always seems to be the case at this time of year, have their string in fine fettle and having sprung to life in the first-time cheekpieces here last time out, Dave Evans’ grey looks set to continue the good work for the Pandy maestro.

Just one win in 11 starts when housed in the care of Ed Dunlop, the son of Gregorian didn’t make an immediate impact when switched yards, but everything came together nicely at the Dunstall Park venue when upped in trip in the new headgear a week ago and given the manner of victory, it would be a brave man to bet against him repeating the dose. Noted travelling sweetly in behind the pace, the four-year-old swept to the front going best as the field turned for home and then just under a hand ride, he readily pulled clear to the tune of four lengths. Clocking a smart overall time as well as setting some sparkling late fractions for a horse of his grade, he returns to the scene of that impressive triumph with pretty much everything in his favour and he should be backed accordingly.