Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MIDNIGHT SHUFFLE (best price 15/4) ran out a game winner of a decent mares’ only contest at Carlisle four days ago and with connections keen to strike while the iron is still hot, Stuart Coltherd’s inmate can justify the quick turnaround.

Unlucky to bump into the progressive and subsequent winner Windtothelightning over today’s C&D two starts ago, the daughter of Midnight Legend was dropped back half a mile in a bid to go one place better at the Cumbrian venue a month later and despite being up against two well-fancied rivals from powerful stables, she duly accomplished the feat.

Setting a pace the others couldn’t handle, she galloped on strongly all the way to the line and with the likely possibility of her adopting similar tactics here today, the eight-year-old is expected to give it a good lash from the front.

TITANIUM BULLET (best price 15/2) shaped with more than a degree of promise in a hot race by the track standards at Fontwell last time out and with that excellent effort earning him an opening handicap mark that has to be described as workable, Warren Greatrex’s lightly-raced sort rates one of the most interesting runners in a race containing little substance beyond Blue Shark.

Held up towards the rear at the Sussex venue, the five-year-old grey made steady progress to race on the heels of the leaders turning for home but when the main players kicked again after the second, it was from that point when he began to flag.

That said, the numbers from that race suggested he’d bumped into four useful opponents that day and with one of them being subsequent Sandown scorer, Inneston, the son of Shirocco has enough upside in his profile to possible follow suit.

CHOLA EMPIRE (best price 9/2) caught a proper tartar in the shape of Kingdom Come at Kempton last time out but he now heads back to the scene of his excellent C&D win previously, and a repeat of the same level of form is likely to see David Simcock’s gelding play a significant role in the final outcome.

Strongly supported despite facing a horse who had bolted up at the Sunbury venue previously, the son of Territories gave his followers plenty of hope in the early stages as he travelled just as well as the favourite, but when his main market rival kicked off the front at the two furlong pole, it soon became apparent he was fighting a losing battle.

Looking at the closing splits that night, it’s easy to see why he struggled to make any in roads into the winner’s advantage and with the third horse going on to score next time, his performance in defeat now becomes a little more explainable.

Impressive both visually and on the clock on his first visit to today’s track the time before, a good break from his inside draw should see him hold every chance of maintaining his unbeaten record.

UNION PARK (best price 11/4) had the misfortune to bump into the in-form Shakeytry at Fairyhouse last time out but, as the data suggested he’d run right up to his very best form in defeat, the son of Walk In The Park is worth another chance to regain the winning theme.

A model of consistency throughout the Winter, Philip Rothwell’s gelding finally ended a series of placed efforts with a deserved victory at Clonmel two starts ago and he may have added to that tally had things panned out a little differently at the Co Meath venue last time.

Turning on the turbos just a little too late, the seven-year-old had to settle for an agonising second for the third time in six starts but as the front three home all ran the final circuit two seconds quicker than the 137-rated novice Bronn, his performance in defeat needs upgrading.

Yet to run a bad race around today’s track over fences, another positive outcome looks on the cards.

PRIDE OF HAWRIDGE (NAP) (best price 9/4) got beaten a fair way at Doncaster last time out, but despite that being the case, his numbers even finishing 30 lengths behind the smart Parramount read well in the context of today’s race and off an opening mark of 96, Stuart Edmunds’ gelding can make his presence felt on handicap debut.

A dual winner on the Flat up to 1m2f, the son of Vadamos has improved with each run for new trainer and his latest effort on Town Moor has to go down as easily his most eye-catching. Held up towards the rear in what turned out to be a very strongly run race of its kind, he kept on well enough in the closing stages to offer plenty of hope for the future and sixth horse that day going on to prove the value of the form back at the same track yesterday (Can’t Beat History), the five-year-old is fancied to follow suit.