Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

TRANSFER FRIENDLY (best price 5-2) is one of the few guaranteed mud larks in the field and with his ability to stay beyond today’s minimum trip also likely to become a serious factor in the latter stages, Harry Whittington’s gelding can book his ticket to the final of this series in style.

A promising third to the useful Lebowski over two miles on his rules debut at Ffos Las, the son of Mahler was a strong fancy to better that finishing position when returning to the Welsh venue over a half a mile further next time and even though it wasn’t by any means a done deal when his main challenger fell at the last, at the same he appeared to have things under control. Coming out both of those two performances with a rating of 126, his time figures also sit nicely alongside his ability and with his yard going along quite tidily despite a reduced string in terms of numbers and quality, the lightly-raced five-year-old can keep up the good work for the Lambourn handler.

MISTER WATSON (best price 5-1) seemed to really relish the heavy ground and step up in trip at Lingfield last time out and with the speed figure of his surprise victory suggesting it was anything but a fluke, Ben Pauling’s gelding is fancied to keep the excellent recent run of his handler going in the right direction (5-17 in last two weeks).

Unable to offer any threat over two miles at Ffos Las on his seasonal return, the lightly-raced seven-year-old was subsequently dropped to a mark of 119 prior to contest his first handicap at the Surrey track and as it proved, a drop into the much calmer waters of a class 4, 0-120 environment helped him in every way. Despite not being fluent at several hurdles on the way around, he always appeared to be travelling much better than his 50-1 odds suggested and by the time he’d reached the second last, it was just a question of negotiating the final two flights. In maintaining the solid gallop all the way to the line (Pride Of Lecale went off very hard), the son of Mawatheeq ended up clocking the best speed figure on the card and when you considered he achieved that feat despite his race being run on the worst ground (last race of the day), his performance deserves even more praise. Up to 126 here today and in a better race, he will obviously have to improve again, but his ability to handle the ground will count for plenty and at his morning odds he makes quite a bit of appeal.

BALLYARE (best price 10-3) ran out a convincing winner over today’s C&D just before the Christmas break and despite this race being a much tougher assignment, Lucinda Russell’s gelding is fancied to take the step up in class in his stride.

A big eye-catcher the time before when running on strongly from a bad draw behind Invincible Larne, the son of Hot Streak fared a little better in the ballot for his return visit to the Midland venue and this time he made no mistake. Settling well off a strong pace, the four-year-old came through powerfully in the closing stages to gain his revenge on his old rival, and in turn, he ended up posting a career-high effort on the speed figures. Additionally, the runner-up, Tipperary Tiger, paid a handsome complement to the form by scoring at Southwell last night and with another solid gallop looking set to be the order of the day, his usual strong finish can be seen to good effect over a C&D that clearly suits.