Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

CHALK STREAM (best price 7-4) did very little wrong despite getting beaten fair and square by Tashkhan here last time out and he rates a strong choice to resume winning ways on his return to the Merseyside track.

Having been extremely impressive on handicap debut the time before at Leicester, it was easy to see why William Haggas’ gelding was a warm order to follow up and although he failed in his bid to justify his short odds, time may tell he faced a difficult task on the day. Not only was the time figure very healthy, his propensity to race a little keenly in the early stages didn’t help his cause late on and in any case, he was up against a horse who was knocking out some serious fractions for the grade and race type in the final three furlongs. Obviously, he’s going to have to settle better today in order to see out the extra two furlongs he encounters, but providing the first part of the test can be overcome, he should have far too much quality for his four opponents based on the numbers he’s achieved so far to date.

JUNGLE JANE (best price 7-2) probably ran to somewhere close to her best at the Curragh over the weekend and a repeat of a similar level of form should see her go close to landing career win number three.

The Rockingham Handicap is always an extremely competitive affair and this year’s renewal proved no different with a whole host of in-form sprinters going to post. Splitting into two groups, Willie McCreery’s filly raced towards the bigger pack congregated towards the far side and at halfway she seemed to be cantering all over her rivals. Once out in the clear, quickened up nicely to join the pace-setting Master Matt, but just in the last 50yds her petered out and she could only keep on at the one pace to finish an honourable third behind Urban Beat, who ploughed a lone furrow up the stands side rail. As you might imagine, the time figure for a race of that quality was very good and with today’s flatter, sharper track likely to play more into her strengths, the daughter of Bungle Inthejungle makes quite a bit of appeal at her morning odds.

AMERICAN STAR (best price 11-4) created quite a favourable impression on his debut over today’s course last month and being the type who looks like he will improve quite significantly from that initial experience, Ed Walker’s colt gains the confident vote to be a good deal more competitive second time around.

Quietly fancied in the market beforehand, a slow beginning unfortunately put him on the back foot and then just to compound matters, he was then switched to the slowest part of the track towards the nearside. The fact, therefore, he made up plenty of late ground against the bias strongly pointed towards he was a good deal better than his finishing position suggested and, as a result, a big step forward is anticipated on his return to the Berkshire venue.