Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Lake Chad ran out an impressive winner at Limerick two days ago, but the one thing to note about his performance was the fact he was one of many to benefit from racing out of the swamp around the inside, so while not wanting to take anything away from his victory, he’s probably not quite the good thing the layers will have you believe back on a more level playing field. With that in mind, there could be some value to be gleaned elsewhere, and the one who stands out on that score is FASSBENDER (best price 7-1), and he makes far more appeal as an each-way alternative at the respective prices (most firms offering five places). 

A bit of a frustrating character in recent times, finishing runner-up no fewer than three occasions since last May, Mark McNiff’s gelding finally gained an overdue success at Downpatrick last time out and in doing so, he ended up clocking a very fast time for the grade. In what turned out to be a strong gallop right from the outset, the son of Famous Name was always comfortable going the sound pace and once picking up the running after the last, he stayed on best of all to edge clear of his main rival, Willyouwalkwithme, up the hill to the line. Up 7lb in the ratings as a consequence, the useful conditional Shane O’Callaghan offsets that impost by taking over in the saddle and with similar conditions in place to what they were a month ago, a big run looks on the cards from this consistent five-year-old. 

AMARILLO SKY (best price 7-4) made a more than satisfactory start to his career over fences in an above-average novices’ handicap at Chepstow last time out and if repeating a similar level of form, he should take all the beating in what appears a much weaker race on paper. 

A useful 128-rated hurdler, connections, however, have always regarded him as a chaser and following a decent start to the campaign in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, he was soon sent over fences to fulfil that potential. Close up from the outset in what turned out to be an extremely strongly run affair at the Welsh venue, the son of Westerner still held every chance turning for home, but as it turned out, he couldn’t quite sustain his effort all the way to the line and he ended up just outside the frame in fourth. That said, even getting beaten eight lengths still represents an excellent return on his first effort over the larger obstacles and with today’s sharp, right-handed track on good ground likely to play more into his strengths, the five-year-old is going to be very hard to peg back if, predictably, he obtains the early front running role.