Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CREATIVE CONTROL (best price 5/1) could never land a blow having been held up in the rear in an above-average race for the grade at Bangor last time out but, with today’s contest representing a far more realistic task based on his ability, Donald McCain’s gelding has a decent chance of getting off the mark over fences at the third attempt.

Promising on his chase debut at Sedgefield, was sent to his local track three weeks later in a bid to go one place better and although he never looked like achieved his objective, he didn’t run too badly in the face of a stiff task. Indeed, the time figure of the race 16 days ago suggested it was one where the form should work out quite well in the coming months and with the son of Battle Of Marengo the first one to fly the flag, there’s a strong feeling an instant return on that theory will be forthcoming.

MASCAT (best price 7/2) has yet to pop his head in front in three attempts over fences so far to date, but he’s definitely getting better with each run and, around a track that should suit, there’s every chance he will gain a deserved breakthrough.

A dual winner over hurdles, Joe Tizzard’s gelding proved slightly disappointing on his chase debut at Newton Abbot back in September, but since then, he’s been unlucky to bump into to progressive types in the shape of Huelgoat and Ballybreeze. In the latest of those two encounters, he did his level best to try and shake off his strong-travelling rival but as it turned out, the winner clearly had the sort of amount in hand to suggest he will be taking much higher rank sooner rather than mater.

Unlikely to be facing anything of that ilk here this afternoon, the son of Zoffany can lead it out from the front.

MOUNTAIN ROAD (NAP) (best price 11/4) found a willing response to maximum pressure to score over tonight’s course last time out and with that breakthrough success likely to instil a good deal of confidence into the son of Churchill going forward, he’s rates a strong choice to follow up over this shorter trip.

An agonising runner-up at Kempton on his first try over two miles, connections kept him at that trip for his latest encounter at the Essex venue and although he huffed and puffed to get the job done, the numbers suggested it was a much better effort than it did at the time.

A horse who clearly needs to be switched off then delivered late, the one thing he wouldn’t want here tonight would be a complete crawl, but with several previous front runners in the line-up, that shouldn’t turn out to be the case.