Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BUTCH (NAP) (best price 15/8) created a favourable impression when getting off the mark at the third time of asking at Uttoxeter last time out and with the speed figure he posted suggesting it was a better performance that first met the eye, Olly Murphy’s gelding is fancied to make a decent impact on handicap debut.

Promising on his previous start behind the useful Supreme Gift at Huntingdon (third won since), the six-year-old was given a bit of a break before arriving at the Midland venue and despite being off the track for three months, he still proved equal to the task.

In what turned out to be a well-run affair despite the small field, he proved he had an attitude to match his ability and with himself and the runner-up pulling well clear of the 129-rated Can You Call, the form looks solid.

Based on that display, an opening assessment of 120 doesn’t appear too penal, and even though his future very much lies over fences, he can continue his progression over the smaller obstacles for the foreseeable future.

JOY OF LIFE (best price 5/1), through no fault of his own, got into a horrendous early rhythm at Limerick last time out and now back to the scene of more happy memories the time before, Seamus Neville’s inmate can replace his letter next to his name back to a low number.

Presumably held up to get the trip at the Greenmount Park venue, the six-year-old proceeded to jump into the back of a rival who made a bad mistake at the first and for good measure he got badly interfered with by the same horse at the very next fence. Soon on the back foot as a result, he was always going to struggle to get back into a race where it paid to be on the front end (winner made all) and once it became apparent he was fighting a losing battle over a trip a mile longer than he faced previously, the son of Libertarian was duly pulled up.

Prior to that blip on his dance card, he had posted a career-high effort on the figures when chasing home the smart Whiskeywealth over today’s course and having proved he stayed at least 2m4f well when running out a game winner on heavy ground at Cork back in January, the combination of a more positive ride over a trip that should suit should see him return to form back at the Powerstown Park track.

LIGHT SENTENCE (best price 3/1) must have a decent engine to be able to run so well as he did last time when you consider how much energy he expended in the early part of his latest encounter, and providing he’s a little more amenable to restraint this time around, Oliver Signy’s gelding certainly has enough ability to win a race of this nature.

Extremely promising in a well-run affair at Taunton on his debut, he faced an even more competitive field on paper when returning to the same C&D later in the same month and despite already having a run, he proceeded to race even more keenly in the early stages than he did first time up.

Despite these early antics, partly caused by his pilot positioning his mount out on the wing with no cover, he ran on extremely strongly from the back of the field to finish a creditable second to the well-regarded Centara and with the data from the race in question suggesting it was an above average race of its kind, his performance deserves extra merit.

Having had two runs now, you’d like the think the natural fizz and exuberance would have been taken out of his system and if so, the four-year-old can piece together an effort which ultimately reflects his true worth.

ATHMAD (best price 13/2) may have been beaten in his hat trick bid at Wolverhampton last time out, but in no way was his defeat seen as a backward step and now returning to a bigger field environment which will suit him much better, Ruth Carr’s gelding rates a solid each-way option over a C&D he enjoys.

A bit of a streaky performer, as his overall profile suggests, once he’s in top shape, however, he tends to hold his form together for a decent period of time and that appears to be the zone he’s in right now.

A shock winner here three starts ago, the seven-year-old duly backed up that victory with an even slicker effort at Wolverhampton next time and if it wasn’t for the tenacity of the well-supported Double Time back over the same C&D three weeks later, he would made it three on the spin.

Suitably sharpened up since the blinkers have been fitted, the old timer looks to be bringing his big boy pants to the party and with most of his better numbers achieved when the tempo is high right from the start, he should hopefully get the ideal set-up he requires.