Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

HARRY’S HALO (best price 2/1) did not get the clearest of passages at a vital stage at Chester last time out, but it was an effort that at least suggested he is back in the groove and with today’s track and conditions right up his street based on his previous visit to Town Moor, Kevin Frost’s inmate rates a strong choice in this similar contest.

Returning to the turf after disappointing on the all-weather at Kempton, the three-year-old chestnut was pitched into a hugely competitive affair against his old age group and if it wasn’t getting caught on heels inside the final furlong, he may have added to his winning tally.

Once out in the clear on the Roodee, he finished off his race with plenty of purpose and having already proven that today’s more galloping track is to his liking, the mud-loving three-year-old is fancied to repeat his C&D victory from last November.

ALIOSKI (best price 7/2) was a creditable third in a much tougher contest than he faces here today when last seen over hurdles and arriving here in decent shape courtesy of two useful performances on the Flat, Gary Brown’s inmate has all the right credentials to make a big impact over a track where he has gone well in the past.

Sent off a big price at Sandown back in December, he clearly faced a stiff task up against several improving types from powerful stables but despite being one of the outsiders in an eight-strong field, he acquitted himself with distinction by staying on well into third behind the smart Hugos New Horse.

Providing his suitability to a well-run race over two miles on soft ground that day, it is also worth pointing out he performed well in the final of the fixed brush series handicap over today’s course last summer and now reunited with the pilot who was on board the last time he was successful, the combination is fancied to dovetail nicely for the second time.

LUNAR BIRD (best price 15/2) has been off the track since making a winning return at Ripon in April, but providing she is in a similar frame of mind on her first run for 89 days, there is a strong possibility she will outrun her position in the market.

Unable to make any sort of impact on her only start as a juvenile, the daughter of Cracksman was sent off a big price when bidding to fare better on her turf debut at the Yorkshire venue and, having been held up towards the rear of the field in the early stages of a keenly run affair (useful speed figure), she came through strongly at the death to win going away.

Clearly relishing the soft ground and the test those conditions provided, she marked herself down as a filly who should win more races when faced with a similar challenge and with tonight’s surface and step up in trip seen as combination that should suit, a likely patient ride from Jamie Spencer should see her in the thick of the action late on.