Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

A competitive opener on day three of the Festival, but there’s quite a bit of upside regarding the prospects of both ENA BAIE (best price 8-1) and JIVING JERRY (best price 14-1) and they are worth playing against the field.

The former has been lightly raced in recent times, but that means she comes here fresh following just one run since Christmas at Cork last time out. In a race where she had little chance of winning on official ratings, Conor O’Dwyer’s mare acquitted herself with great credit finishing on the coat tails of horses rated in the 140-150 bracket and having come out of that contest with her handicap mark more or less unaffected, she can hopefully be a more potent force back in handicap company. Previous fourth in a big-field handicap at the Galway Festival when trained by Harry Fry, the daughter of Crillon has her ideal ground to run a big race with Jordan Gainford seen as a massive plus easing her burden of top weight.

The latter has been a pretty reliable conveyance in races of this nature this season and following another solid display at Fairyhouse last time out, there’s every reason to feel upbeat about his chances in this similar contest. Often ridden with plenty of restraint, those tactics were seen to good effect when he swept through for victory in the latter stages at Galway last October and by and large, he’s run with a good amount of credit since despite not adding to his winning tally. Last time out he stayed on well late on to finish just outside the frame in a hugely-competitive heat at Fairyhouse and another solid run looks on the cards if he repeats a similar level of form.

Flooring Porter has been nothing short of a revelation this season and his victory in the Stayer’s Hurdle was the culmination of his meteoric rise. However, he has been on the go since July, so whether he can bring his A-game to the table one last time has to be a slight question mark and if he’s not quite on-song (also likely to be pestered for the early lead), RONALD PUMP (best price 7-1) will be one of the few best poised to take advantage. 

A brave runner-up in last season’s Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham when he might have won had things gone smoother, and the same race was the target this campaign until injury intervened. Prior to the setback, Matthew Smith’s gelding had run a couple of creditable races in defeat, namely his gallant runner-up in the Morgiana Hurdle at Fairyhouse behind the mighty Honeysuckle and considering that race didn’t play into his strengths at the Co Meath venue, his performance deserved upgrading. Still, it was a display that suggests he remains one of the best stayers in Ireland and with freshness on his side, a big run is anticipated if anywhere near his best.

Again, another trappy handicap hurdle on the cards for punters but both FLOUEUR (best price 11-1) and RAGNAR LODBROK (best price 16-1) come out of strong races on the figures last time out, so it makes sense to the pair on side at the morning odds.

The former had a brief flirtation with fences until returning to hurdles at Navan back In January and it was then full steam ahead to contest the boys race at the Cheltenham festival, in a bid to win the prize for the second season in succession for his trainer. Not particularly well fancied on the day, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding looked like he was going to justify his lengthy odds when well behind at the top of the hill, but in staying on extremely strongly in the latter stages, he managed to drag himself into a creditable third place finish. Given what the winner, Galopin Des Champs did here yesterday, it's safe to say it was a fair effort by the son of Legolas to get withing 11 lengths of a subsequent Grade 1 winner and now stepping up to a trip which should suit and racing off a 3lb lower mark, a big run looks on the cards.

The latter came out of his latest assignment with great credit, having fared best of those who raced up with the strong pace set in the Irish EBF Final at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, and providing he’s ridden with a little more restraint on this occasion, Denise Foster’s gelding has every chance of featuring at the business end. 

Generally consistent against some top-quality novice opposition, his best effort came when he finished runner-up in a listed contest at Cork back in November and that was despite a particularly poor round of jumping. Much better over his hurdles as he’s gained more experience since, the six-year-old kept on really well considering how the race panned out for him 26 days ago and with the good ground that day seemingly suiting him in line with his pedigree, similar conditions should allow him to perform to his best.