Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

COPPER AND FIVE (best price 16/1) has yet to register a win in six starts so far this season, but there have been definite signs of late that he’s beginning to edge closer towards something approaching his best and, at a track where he’s performed well in the past, Ruth Carr’s gelding may easily outrun his morning odds.

Fourth in the ultra-competitive Thirsk Hunt Cup earlier in the season with the likes of subsequent winners Lion Tower, Cruyff Turn, Empirestateofmind and Jean Baptiste all behind him that day, the six-year-old ran better than the final result suggested at Redcar last time – certainly if the figures are to be believed.

In what turned out to be an extremely strongly run event for the field size, the son of Paco Boy paid heavily for trying to chase the pace set by the all-the-way winner, Azano, but even allowing for the fact he got beaten four lengths, he still comes out well on the numbers. A winner on his first attempt over today’s C&D, he followed that up with another solid effort behind the useful Menai Bridge on his return visit and with a handy draw right down the middle of the track, a nice patient ride should see him a bigger player than his odds imply.

ANIMATO (best price 6/1) proved he’s a stayer very much on the up over tonight’s C&D last time out and with that gutsy victory coming at the expense of three similarly improving three-year-olds, David O’Meara’s chestnut can not only win the battle of his generation again, but also defeat the older horses too.

A winner earlier in the season at Redcar when making just about all the running, the son of Ulysees was dropped out at the rear on Town Moor 14 days ago in order to preserve his unproven stamina as best as possible, and even though he looked in trouble for large portions of the home straight, he eventually came through strongly in the latter stages to score with a bit up his sleeve. Now proven over 1m4f, he has the profile of a horse who should have all bases covered no matter how this race pans out.

RICH BELIEF (best price 11/4) ran about as well as could be expected on ground that wouldn’t have suited at Galway last week and now back on a surface that has seen him bear fruit over hurdles several times previously, Karl Thornton’s gelding can maintain his excellent run of form.

A smooth winner at Kelso over hurdles back in May, the son of Make Believe was unlucky to bump into the progressive three-year-old Waterville when returning to the Flat at Limerick a month later and there was certainly no disgrace either in finishing fourth to the smart Anna Bunina when changing codes again next time.

Back on the level at Ballybrit last week, the rain couldn’t have come at a worse time for a horse who likes a genuinely sound surface, but despite the change in conditions, he still managed to hit the frame in a very competitive 1m6f handicap. Moreover, he achieved the feat despite being forced to race around the un-favoured inside of the track and considering how well he hit the line, it’s safe to say he remains in excellent heart. Looking at tonight’s field, other than Derrinlaur, many of the others arrive here with questions to ask and with trip, track and ground to suit, the case for the in-form stayer is cemented.

SOPHIESTICATE (NAP) (best price 2/1) had to considered rather unlucky to bump into a progressive type who clearly was way better than his mark at Doncaster last time out, but with nothing of that calibre in today’s line-up, Jim Goldie’s filly has a golden opportunity to finally get off the mark.

Closer than ever to breaking her maiden tag when a neck runner-up to the improving Bruno’s Gold over tonight’s C&D two starts ago, the daughter of War Command went on to split Eagle’s Way, who has gone on to win since, and previous easy Beverley scorer, Shimmering Sands on Town Moor ten days later. Keeping on well in the latter stages on each occasion, there’s clearly nothing wrong with her application and other than the lurking presence of southern raider and handicap debutante Commander Hector, tonight’s assignment looks well within her capabilities.