Cheltenham Tips: Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

The attritional conditions we witnessed here yesterday are likely to carry over to the New Course, despite a better forecast, and that should suit both DUNBOYNE (best price 8-1) and ALAPHILLPE (best price 6-1) who have proven form in the mud.

The former has a profile similar to quite a few recent winners of this race – having just sneaked into the final qualifying position in one of the key trials at Leopardstown – and his latest effort back over the same C&D is best forgotten due him getting totally mullered on the home turn. Coming out of that race 40 days on the same mark as a result, Gordon Elliott’s gelding giant seven-year-old has received a stroke of luck just sneaking in as horse number 24 on the card and with his favoured soft ground very much in his favour, he looks poised to run a big race.

The latter has had this race in mind for quite some time now and his only run this season was an eye-catching one to say the least. Travelling as well as anything in the qualifier at Warwick, Fergal Obrien’s gelding patently blew up on the run-in, but with Paddy Brennam at pains to give his mount as easy a time as possible, the kindness afforded in his direction can reap maximum rewards.

As we witnessed in this race last year, FLOORING PORTER (best price 4-1) is devilishly difficult to pass once his blood is up and with the strong possibility that Gavin Cromwell’s gelding will be afforded a relatively uncontested lead, he’s taken to go back-to-back.

One of the most improved horses in training last season, the culmination of his meteoric rise saw him walk away with the ultimate reward and, although his campaign so far to date hasn’t allowed him to scale those heights a year on, one has the impression that everything has been geared around coming back here for a repeat. Falling when seemingly going best in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan on his return to action back in November, the son of Yeats had to play second fiddle to the enterprisingly ridden Klassical Dream at Leopardstown on his most recent outing, but despite that defeat, he still came out of the race with great credit. Looking back at that race 49 days ago, Danny Mullins got rather caught with his pants down as Paul Townend anticipated the start better and once accepting that things weren’t going to go according to plan, it was a case of game management for the future. Unlikely to get caught out in the same fashion for the second time, the seven-year-old is fancied to run riot from the front.

Following the form of the Novices’ Handicap here on trials day hasn’t been a bad policy in recent times and this year’s winner, IMPERIAL ALCAZAR (best price 6-1), has the look of a horse who could do some serious damage back to the scene of that C&D.

A useful 147-rated performer over hurdles, the son of Vinnie Roe has looked even better over fences and following two promising efforts against high-quality novices’, he came good on his latest start

two months ago. Impressing with the way he jumped and travelled in a well-run affair, Fergal O’Brien’s inmate left a good field for dead after the last and with the third and fifth already coming out and boosting the form subsequently, a rise to 152 appears more than fair. Seemingly all the better for wind surgery, the rigours of a big-field handicap offer no fears and, as a result, he makes more appeal than most.

DINOBLUE (NAP) (best price 9-4) ran out a hugely impressive winner on her debut at Clonmel and with connections taking the seemingly bold policy of coming straight here without needing another run, Willie Mullins’ mare is strongly fancied to overcome her inexperience.

Well-touted prior to her opening gambit at the Co Tipperary venue, the daughter of Doctor Dino always looked like she was going to justify the confidence in her direction and without being unduly punished, she won by 15 lengths with any amount in hand. Backing up the visual impression she created on the clock, it’s been good to see the form of the race work out well since and with a technique over her hurdles to suggest she will totally at home throughout today’s likely solid pace, the five-year-old chestnut rates nap material.

A race where experience in the saddle is one of the key factors, so the booking of Derek O’Connor for SCHOOL BOY HOURS (best price 6-1) and Patrick Mullins for MISTER FOGPATCHES (best price 8-1) catch the eye significantly enough to make them the two to be with against the field.

The former finally came of age over fences after a series of near misses in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season on home soil last time out and with the time figure pointing heavily towards the race being a strong piece of form, it’s been no surprise to see many come out and run well since. A smooth traveller with a decent jumping technique, a clear round should see the classy son of Presenting right in the mix.

The latter has to be commended for his consistency and it’s surely only a matter of time before he gains his due rewards. Third in last season’s Scottish National, pat Fahy’s grey has put decent shifts in some of the toughest staying handicaps either side of the Irish Sea and his latest effort in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran has to go down close to a career high. Despite running on the slowest part of the track for the thick end of three miles, he still managed to finish third to the gambled-on Longhouse Poet and with the likes of Death Duty, Diol Ker, Coko Beach, Escaria Ten and Franco De Port all boosting the form in a major way since, a run of a similar standard should ensure the eight-year-old gives his supporters a decent spin.