Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

MAJESTIC DAWN (best price 5-1) was a late withdrawal from the Cambridgeshire last weekend due to the quickening surface but with conditions likely to be much more suitable for Paul and Oliver Cole’s gelding this time around, he’s fancied to more than hold his own against the three-year-old battalions. 

Winner of the big 1m1f cavalry charge at Newmarket the previous season, the five-year-old very much had his total campaign geared around trying to repeat the dose, but unfortunately for him and connections, the plan had to be shelved on account of the dry weather last week. However, the weather gods have certainly provided him with a decent chance to gain some compensation here today and with all of his three runs this season strongly suggesting he remains as good as ever, the largely consistent and genuine chestnut should give another solid account. 

ETERNAL LOVE (NAP) (best price 15-8) only needed one more stride in order to make a winning debut at Kempton earlier in the month, but with that initial experience likely not to be lost on Ralph Beckett’s filly, she rates a strong choice to make amends. 

Relatively easy to back at the Sunbury debut, hence the 14-1 starting price, there was no great expectations attached to her chance first time out, so to run as well as she did, had to go down as a massive bonus as far as her connections were concerned. Once she engaged top gear from the cutaway, she came home with plenty of purpose and in hitting the line really hard, she left observers with no doubt she was a winner waiting to happen next time. 

LOUDEST WHISPER (best price 9-1) was a good second when she last ran over today’s C&D back in July and with that performance taking her overall track record under both codes to 3332213, the daughter of Maxios makes quite a bit of each-way appeal at the morning prices on her return to her happy hunting ground. 

Ed Delany’s mare has been fairly busy throughout the summer and although she’s run quite well on the odd occasion away from today’s track, it’s only when she steps foot on the Co Meath circuit that she really comes to life. Runner-up to Pretty Little Liar in a similar race to today’s back in July, she went one place better on her return visit when back over hurdles the following day and she was once again in top form around the tight, left-handed track a month later when finishing a creditable third in a much tougher heat behind Act Of God. Although she handles most surfaces, any more rain in the area would only go to further advance her already solid claims and on balance, she has a much better chance than her 10-1 quotes suggest.