Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

EDE’IFFS ELTON (best price 15-4) has a pretty enviable record around today’s track and following yet another successful visit here 19 days ago, Robert Walford’s gelding can continue his lover affair with the West Country venue.

0-6 over hurdles, the son of Geordieland has proved to be a different kettle of fish over fences and following his breakthrough success over today’s course in the first-time cheekpieces back in December 2020, he repeated the dose a month later in similarly cosy fashion. Despite losing his unbeaten record here in a competitive handicap on Boxing Day, the eight-year-old soon addressed the balance with a commanding display a month ago and with everything about that performance pointing towards a horse right on top of his game at present, confidence is high he can add to his impressive track stats of 1121.

WESTERN MUSIC (NAP) (best price 15-8) wouldn’t be the first fancied horse to go to Newcastle and underperform, but now back at a track that clearly suits her better, David Barron’s filly is fancied to regain the winning thread.

Placed on her first two starts over seven-furlongs at the Midland track, the daughter of Epaulette was well backed to make it third time lucky when dropping back in trip and in what turned out to be a strongly run race for the grade, she stayed on best off all to claim the spoils close home. Sent to Gosforth Park for her latest assignment, the four-year-old could only manage fourth behind the in-form Million Reasons, and although it’s probably fair to say she wouldn’t have beaten the winner, she would have finished a good deal closer with a clearer run inside the final two furlongs. Still in decent shape based on that effort 17 days ago, her time figures suggest she’s got the beating of today’s field, so it’ll probably just boil down to whether she gets the run of the race.

A maiden hurdle lacking in quality and it’s one that IMPERIAL KATE (best price 4-1) should easily be capable of making her presence felt if repeating her latest performance in a much better race at Punchestown.

Tailed off on her first attempt in a bumper over today’s track last season, Jarlath Fahey’s mare fared a little better behind a nice one of Willie Mullins’ next time after a 362-day break and it was then the decision was made to send her over hurdles. Once again sent off at triple-figure odds, this time the seven-year-old managed to defy her position in the market to a certain degree by finishing a respectable sixth behind the talented Ramillies and it was an effort that certainly held out plenty of hope for the future. Interestingly, there’s a direct comparison with today’s favourite, Allbetsoff, based on their respective performances on the exact same card from 15 days and when consider she ran the final circuit at the Co Kildare venue marginally quicker than her main market rival – despite having to run over half a mile longer - she makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.