Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

GAMESTERS ICON (best price 9-2) has been knocking at the door of late over hurdles in the face of some pretty tough assignments, but now dropped into Class 5 company for the first time, Oliver Greenall’s mare is strongly fancied to take full advantage.

Twice third to subsequent listed winner Anythingforlove in December, the daughter of Sixties Icon once again filled out the same position behind two smart novices in the shape of Fontaine’s Collonges and No Risk Des Flos at Leicester and although she ended up getting beaten affair way at the Midland venue, the time figure of the front pair revealed she had very little chance of coping at that level. Popped into her first handicap at Uttoxeter last time out, the six-year-old kept on valiantly up against a well-backed favourite who posted a good speed figure in landing a gamble, but with the pair well clear and her own numbers stacking up well in the context of today’s weaker contest, the consistent mare rates a solid each-way choice at the morning odds.

EVITA DU MESNIL (best price 4-1) has yet to run a bad race since joining new connections and following another victory over today’s C&D last time out, Daragh Bourke’s mare can carry that level of performance forward to even greater heights on her return to the Cumbrian venue.

Not seeing out 2m4f at Musselburgh two starts ago, the daughter of Gris De Gris was dropped back to the minimum trip when contesting a competitive affair here 23 days ago and after travelling well throughout, she kept on stoically on the long run to the line to gain her second success of the campaign. Clearly, the seven-year-old grey goes really well for today’s pilot, Kevin Brogan, and with another patient ride likely to be the order of the day, she can be delivered to full effect in the latter stages.

SCOTTISH ACCENT (best price 9-4) proved last time out that a stiff 2m4f suits him down to the ground and with conditions almost identical to what they were 17 days ago, the in-form eight-year-old can gallop his rivals into submission.

Always to the fore at the Cumbrian venue, the son of Golan picked up the running after the sixth fence and from that point onwards, he jumped well and stayed on strongly to record a comfortable victory. Hitting the line hard, he clearly had more to offer than the official winning margin suggested and with the third home boosting the form at Newcastle earlier in the week, Rebecca Menzies’ gelding receives a confident vote to follow suit.

ROYAL ARCADE (best price 7-4) faces a tough opponent in the shape of recent Sandown runner-up, Mister Watson, but he does have two things in his favour over his main market rivals, namely C&D form and the likelihood of a ton of improvement to come and at the morning odds, he makes a good deal more appeal.

Seemingly unfancied when pitched into a useful novices’ event here a month ago, Nicky Richards’ gelding raced accordingly through the early part of the contest, unable to go the gallop set by the strong front-running favourite, Dreams Of Home. However, once turning for home and meeting the rising ground, the son of Arcadio really picked up the bridle and after picking off one or two notable scalps in the final half a mile, he forced the short-price jolly to be pushed out all the way to the line. As we know, the winner is fairly smart and is held in high regard by the McCain team so for this embryonic chaser to finish within three lengths of a horse of some quality on his debut in no mean feat and if he can keep tabs on his main market rival here this afternoon, hopefully he might have enough stamina to tip the balance in his favour late on.