Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

SOLDIER OF DESTINY (best price 5-2) ended up just being a bit-part player on his first outing over fences under rules at Hereford last time out but, as the time figure revealed in the post-race analysis he’d been in a pretty searching war, Jamie Snowden’s gelding is afforded another chance to prove he’s a decent chaser in the making in this easier-looking event.

A former point winner at today’s venue back in November, the son of Presenting failed to make much of an impact on his rules debut over hurdles at Ascot a month later and, as a result, connections soon scraped that project in favour of sending him straight over the larger obstacles. Heading the peloton who were in pursuit of the pace-setting pair Calico and Galice Macalo at the Midland track, the lightly-raced six-year-old paid for cutting out most of the donkey work in the final half a mile, but at the same time, he didn’t get beaten too far. Indeed, despite suffering a 11-length defeat, he still came out of the contest with a healthy speed figure next to his name, and with his opening handicap mark of 122 meaning he’s allowed to step into the much calmer waters of a Class 4 contest here this afternoon, the combination of a certain degree of respite and a return to his previous happy hunting ground makes him the most intriguing runner in today’s line-up.

WONDERWALL (NAP) (best price 13-8) has been brought along steadily with a view to be peaking at Cheltenham in a month’s time and with the first part of the plan working a treat at Doncaster last time out, the final piece of the preparation will hopefully produce a similar outcome.

A useful horse in bumpers last season, good enough to finish a respectable seventh behind Sir Gerhard at the Cheltenham festival, connections have always had the Ballymore as a target for his first campaign over hurdles and he’s done nothing to dissuade them from their original view in his two races so far to date. Unlucky not to score at the first time of asking at Newbury, a mistake at the last hurdle proving costly, the son of Yeats made amends next time out at Doncaster, accounting for the highly-regarded City Chief. Number-wise, the race of Town Moor was well beyond the standard of an average maiden hurdle and today’s contest looks the natural stepping stone to find out whether he’s Cheltenham material without absolutely busting his brains. Hopefully he will come through his stiffest test to date with flying colours and if so, the scopey six-year-old might well be one of the most interesting outsiders in the opener on day two of the festival.