Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ROMAN DYNASTY (NAP) (best price 9/4) roared back to form with an authoritative display at Nottingham last time out and with the policy of a quick turnaround seen as a wise move, he is fancied to take full advantage of racing off his old mark before the new one kicks in.

Having showed at encouraging signs at Haydock on his previous outing, it came as no surprise to see him a popular choice in the market at the Midland venue and after travelling like the winner from the outset, he shot clear inside the final furlong to score by five lengths.

Clocking a good time for the grade, Joseph Parr’s inmate still gets a chance to race at a level in which he is more than comfortable, and with today’s different conditions not seen as too much of an inconvenience (has gone well of soft ground before), he can provide his in-form handler with another winner.

Quite a few familiar names in the National Hunt scene over the past few seasons due duty in this valuable summer prize and of them, SOLE PRETENDER (best price 9/1) rates a decent bet at the morning odds to recapture the crown he first took in 2021.

A progressive hurdler back then, Norman Lee’s gelding has since gone on to make a decent career for himself over fences and although he hasn’t managed to win for some time, he usually puts in a decent shift come rain or shine. Even allowing for the fact 2m7f was way beyond his best in the Mayo National at Ballinrobe last time out, for instance, he still finished a creditable second and now back over a trip more in-keeping with his overall profile, he has a decent chance of going one place better than last year.

FLYING SECRET (best price 4/1) arrives here right on top his game courtesy of a tenacious victory over today’s C&D and with connections seemingly finding another decent opportunity for the son of Showcasing, he can make a bold bid to complete his hat trick.

Doing well to run down the positively ridden Cubanista at Yarmouth two starts ago, Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding faced a much tougher assignment at today’s Berkshire venue two weeks later but, with the tempo set at a similarly sound level right from the start, he was once again able to come through strong in the closing stages to gain a narrow verdict.

Clearly getting on well with Mia Nicholls that day, the promising apprentice is once again seen as a useful addition and even though he faces several potentially well-treated three-year-olds lurking towards the foot of the handicap, the in-form four-year-old still rates the percentage call over a track that suits.