Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

UNANSWERED PRAYERS (NAP) (best price 2/1) made a more than satisfactory return to action in The Silver Trophy at Chepstow last month and with his attentions now switched to fences following that excellent effort, Chris Gordon’s gelding can make a wining start in his new discipline. 

A smart novice hurdler last season, winning three times in eight starts, the highlight of his performances arguably took place over today’s course when he chased home the potentially top-class Stage Star in a small-field contest.

Rounding off the campaign with a mark of 125, the son of Ocovango was pitched in to the deep end of an extremely hot-looking renewal of one of the features at the Welsh venue’s October fixture and although he ultimately finished just outside the frame, his performance in defeat has to go down as a creditable one. 

Looking likely to shake up the eventual winner, Knapper’s Hill, after the last, it was from that point the six-year-old began to feel the effects of his 174-day break, but it’s worth pointing out he ended up splitting Lord Baddesley and Proschama, who have both gone on to advertise the form since. 

Twice a runner-up in Irish points and hailing from a stable that usually have their novice chasers well-schooled, he looks set to repeat last season’s first-time-out success with a clear round of 

MATER MATUTA (best price 7/2) has held her form together for the thick end of seven months and, following another solid placed effort at Tramore last time out, Ed Delany’s mare can shake a leg one more time. 

A two-time winner under both disciplines during the Summer period, the daughter of Dawn Approach has since finished placed on her last two starts and with her most recent coming at the hands of a lightly-raced, progressive type, it’s fair to say she takes her racing well. 

Quite aggressively ridden at the Co Waterford venue, unfortunately that different approach ultimately led to her demise, so providing today’s pilot opts for a more circumspect line of thinking, the chestnut mare has a decent chance of returning to winning ways.

DIDTHEYLEAVEUOUTTO (BEST PRICE 2/1) hasn’t quite scaled the heights he threatened to do as a youngster, but on the evidence of his latest out at Chepstow he still has plenty to offer and in a race where he finished runner-up twelve months ago, Nick Gifford’s chestnut is fancied to go one place better. 

Winless over jumps since landing a novice event at Ascot back in 2018, the nine-year-old chestnut has, however, put in some sterling efforts in defeat and his fourth in The ultra-competitive Silver Trophy at the Welsh track 26 days ago is right up there with some of his better displays.

Running on strongly in the latter stages having been towards the rear turning for home, the son of Presenting indicated a step back up to three miles might well be the catalyst for him to be successful again and today’s contest, certainly not chocked full of in-form rivals, provides him with the perfect opportunity to do so. The only negative would be any large quantities of rain that would alter the current going description of good, good-to-firm in places on the hurdles track.