Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

A tricky handicap to kick off the card, but there’s a decent THANKYOURLUCKYSTAR (best price 11/2) could prove the answer if he can build on the promise he’s accumulated from his first three starts over hurdles.

No match for the useful Marble Sands on hurdling debut at Hereford, Alistair Ralph’s gelding showed much improved form when returning to the Midland venue a month later, chasing home two horse who are now rated 125 and 122 respectively.

Once again in quite deep at Huntingdon on his latest outing after a 65-day break, the son of Dunaden couldn’t go with the main players in the latter stages, but being as the tempo was pretty strong according to the post-race data, even a 15-length defeat at the hands of the useful Imperial Bede reads quite well in the context of today’s race.

Handed an opening mark of 102, he now gets a chance to race on a more level playing field and hailing from a stable who have been pretty hot in the last month or so, the locally-trained seven-year-old can reward each-way support.

BORN AT MIDNIGHT (best price 5/2), other than one blob on his dance card due to soft ground, has maintaining a consistent level of form this season and with all his best displays coming on right-handed tracks when conditions have been in his favour, everything looks set fair for him to go well against a largely mixed bag of opponents.

Unlucky when falling two out with the race at his mercy on his first visit to today’s track, Bill Turner’s gelding only found the useful Paseo too good for him in the very same race on his return visit. Either side of that fine effort here back in November, the son of Midnight Legend notched up a couple of notable victories and even though he couldn’t quite make in three for the season at Huntingdon last time, he was by no means disgraced.

Looking at some of his main opposition here today, Starevitch has yet to jump a fence under rules, Grizzly James is unproven over the trip, while Kestrel Valley supporters will be hoping a switch to Kerry Lee might work the oracle for him.

CHOLA EMPIRE (NAP) (best price 2/1) remains in decent form despite twice failing to add to his Southwell gains back in January, and with tonight’s contest representing a significant ease in grade (Class 3 to Class 5) for David Simcock’s inmate, he’s strongly fancied to capitalise.

A smooth winner in a fast time at the Midland venue, the son of Territories had the misfortune to bump into the potentially smart Kingdom Come in a warmer race at Kempton next time out and that was followed up by a similarly frustrating experience at Class 3 level last time.

Despite the competitive nature of the field, it was a race that was noted for its pedestrian pace and, as a result, it turned into a bit of sprint for the line off the home bend. Better suited by a stronger gallop based on all his previous data, the likes of Pinwheel and Bond Boy should ensure tonight’s contest is not run at a dawdle and having already enjoyed previous success over the C&D, he looks set to add to that tally.