Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

GLORIOUS CHARMER (best price 5-1), with a win-to-run ration of 2-30, clearly isn’t one for maximum stakes, but at the same time, he’s done more than enough of late to warrant a small interest in a race of today’s nature.

An eye-catching third over today’s C&D two starts ago, coming from a long way back to gain a slice of the pie late on, Michael Herrington’s gelding was dropped back to the minimum trip a few days later and, as it turned out, the fast five-furlongs proved an insufficient test. Dwelling coming out of the stalls, the six-year-old was always on the back foot and despite making some belated late headway to finish on the coattails of the main players, he never looked like landing a blow. Back up a furlong and nicely drawn in stall four, the son of Charm Spirit has a decent chance of proving a major factor back to the scene of his best effort on the numbers.

BARFORD DIVA (best price 5-1) has run two really nice races over today’s C&D so far this season and a repeat of the level of form shown should be enough to ensure Mitchell Hunt’s mare is right in the thick of the action once again. 

Sent off 300-1 for her debut here back in December and, despite being up against the likes of Holly, Storm Dennis, Natty Night and island Run, who have all won since, she acquitted himself with great credit, staying on well from the back of the field in the closing stages. Back to the scene of that solid effort two weeks later, the daughter of Kingston Hill once again impressed with her overall application when keeping on well from mid-division to get within five lengths of the all-the-way winner Petticoat Lucy, a run which was comparible on the speed figures. Whether she can turn around the form with her old rival is open for debate, but with today’s smaller field, better ground and, more importantly, extra yardage all seen as a plus, it would still be slightly disappointing if she couldn’t make the frame at the very least. 

LUCKY MAN (best price 4-1) hasn’t lived up to his name on several of his most recent outings, but as his downfall hasn’t always been of his own making, another chance is afforded to Richard Spencer’s gelding to gain a deserved success for one or two near misses. 

Despite winning over five furlongs at Newcastle four starts ago, he shaped as though the minimum trip was an insufficient test on his next two outings and even over six at Lingfield last time out, he was doing all his best work at the finish. His latest defeat was probably more to do with the fact he was dropped out towards the rear from his wide draw and, as a result, found himself in a terrible position off the home turn, but either way, the Surrey venue just didn’t look like his kind of track. Today’s more conventional circuit, however, should prove to be more suitable and because he’s unlikely to be too far behind turning for home due to the small field, the son of Kodi Bear shouldn’t have too many excuses this time.

FAMOUS BRIDGE (NAP) (best price 11-8) was a little bit of a disappointment when failing to land the odds here last time out, but he still left the impression he’s a fair prospect in the making and on today’s better ground, Nicky Richards’ gelding can go some way to repairing the damage from 36 days ago. 

A promising runner-up on hurdles debut at Carlisle, the son of Fame And Glory faced a well-fancied rival in the shape of High Stakes on his second start at Ayr a month later and, in what turned out to be a proper test over the final half a mile, he managed to come out on top in the closing stages. A warm order to follow up here next time, the six-year-old raced with the choke out for the first two miles of the journey and even though he was still travelling like the most likely winner approaching the last, the energy loss he suffered eventually caught up with him and he was run out of the argument by the more patiently ridden Ned Tanner. However, the pair were nicely clear of the rest and with Brian Hughes likely to have a better understanding of how his mount has to be ridden in future, hopefully the combination can prove that a mark of 117 massively underestimates his true worth.