Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

LILLY PEDLAR (best price 3-1) ran out clear second best in a hot novices’ hurdle at Taunton two months ago and providing she’s capable of running to a similar standard on today’s much more testing conditions, Nicky Henderson’s mare has enough ability to make an impact.

Promising in a couple of bumpers without setting the world on fire, the daughter of Yeats was sent off a big price for one hailing from the Seven Barrows stable on her hurdling debut, but that didn’t deter her from outrunning her odds. In what turned out to be a well-run affair at the West Country venue, the six-year-old stayed on nicely in the latter stages to finish within a respectable distance of impressive winner Boothill, and with the winner considered good enough to be entered in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, it puts into perspective her achievements that afternoon (fourth won since). Being a half-sister to the Gold Cup winning Long Run, she should be seen to good effect over further in time, but for now the minimum trip will go hand in hand with her education and in a contest where the cream should rise to the top, she makes more appeal than most.

Not a lot to separate ALICE O’BYRNE (best price 9-4) and Midnight Glory on their Limerick clash last time, but there’s more than half a chance the former can turn around the half-a-length deficit if she can eradicate the slight mistakes that hamstrung her in the latter stages 36 days ago.

Having her first outing in handicap company at the Greenmount Park venue, Henry De Bromhead’s mare impressed with the well she travelled throughout what was a competitive affair and she was still going best on the run down to two out. Unfortunately, the daughter of Vinnie Roe got in too close and rather ballooned the brush hurdle, giving away vital ground and momentum to her main rival, and to compound matters, she wasn’t overly quick through the air at the last. As it turned out, those two errors undoubtedly cost her the prize given the narrow margin of defeat, but at least a performance of that magnitude gives her a sound platform from which to build going forward and being a former point winner, today’s stiffer examination over a more galloping track should provide her with the extra foothold she requires.

Considering the only victory ALL GOOD THINGS (best price 4-1) recorded in Ireland came at Limerick on heavy ground, it’s no great surprise to see some of his better performances for new connections over here take place on testing surfaces and arriving here following a confidence-boosting victory in the mud at Bangor, Matt Shepherd’s gelding has a fine opportunity to eke out another win for himself.

The nine-year-old gave out positive signals of better times ahead with a creditable effort over today’s C&D two starts ago and duly vindicated that view with a dominant display at the North Wales venue two months later. Always going well 21 days ago, the nine-year-old picked up the running travelling smoothly four out, and from that point onwards, he took full command of the situation and steadily drew clear of his toiling rivals. Looking at today’s contest, and other than the potential improver, Yulong Magicreef, it’s pretty much the same old faces in a race of this nature, so unless he’s got out of the bed the wrong side this morning, All Good Things really ought to be going close to winning again.

LAST PAGE (best price 11-1) did really well to finish as close up as he did at Wolverhampton last time considering the brutal trip he endured and even though he faces no easy ride tonight over a track he’s yet to encounter, he morning odds more than compensate for the slight negatives.

Handed the worst of the draw at the Dunstall Park venue (10 of 10), Tony Carroll’s gelding raced a little keenly in the early stages as his rider tried to seek some cover from his outside track position, but despite expending a good deal of energy in the process, he still had the quality to keep on strongly all the way down the straight to be a never-nearer fourth at the finish. Much better drawn today in stall one tonight, hopefully the son of Pastoral Pursuits will get some well-needed cover around the inside and if, as anticipated, he turns for home having worked himself into a reasonable striking position, he’ll have enough resources to make himself competitive in the final push for the line.