Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

PRESSURE’S ON (NAP) (best price 13/8) came from a long way back to almost claim victory over today’s C&D last time out and having been handed a favourable draw on his return visit, a decent break should provide Ed Dunlop’s colt the perfect platform to go on and make amends. 

Not especially slowly away here 13 days ago, his pilot on that occasion just seem to allow to drift back through the field for no apparent reason and as it turned out, this decision to ride a patient race on him backfired in a big way. Getting trapped in behind a wall of horses rounding the home turn, the son of Land Force took off once out in the clear and despite having a seemingly impossible task trying to reel in the heavily backed favourite McLoven, he only failed by one stride to do so. 

Although it could be argued an opening mark of 77 is no gimme, at the same time, he clearly has plenty of ability on the evidence of his latest exploits and the fact he has been able to post a significant speed figure at today’s track is enough to tip the balance of power in his favour.

CAPOTE’S DREAM (best price 6/1) had to be considered a slightly unlucky loser at Goodwood last time and he is afforded another chance to gain compensation in this similar contest. 

Noted going well at the halfway stage at the Sussex track, Tom Ward’s inmate became desperate for room at a crucial stage and by the time he had extricated himself from the pocket, the winner had already flown. 
The way he finished off his race, however, suggested he would have won with a clear run and having gone well each time he has step foot on tonight’s track (form figures of 212153), another bold bid looks on the cards.

ROYAL EAGLE (best price 5/2) has achieved an admiral level of consistency over the last twelve months and following another solid effort in a competitive mares’ handicap hurdle at The Galway festival last time out, her fine run of results looks set to continue in this much weaker affair on paper. 

Well supported to get the better of 17 rivals at Ballybrit two weeks ago, Gordon Elliott’s mare held every chance approaching the last but despite keeping on strongly all the way to the line, she couldn’t quite match the finishing kick of the first two an she had to settle for an honourable third. 

That said, the time figure of the race in question she had run to a career high and having already proven her ability to handle today’s track with a victory on the Flat earlier this time last year, the five-year-old has plenty of bases covered when weighing up all the pros and cons. 

FULFILLED (best price 5/1) has come across as a thoroughly progressive middle-distance handicapper so far this season and he looks set to continue that viewpoint under ideal conditions. 

Impressing with the way he dug himself out of a hole at Ripon on his seasonal bow, things just didn’t quite in his favour at Beverley next time out, but he was soon back on track at Lingfield when last seen, once again coming from a fair way back to capture the prize late on. 

A horse with a fair cruising speed and a useful turn of foot, he seems to thrive – based on his time figures – when the tempo is strong from the outset and with tonight’s contest likely to be run in such fashion, the son of Ulysses is fancied to strike again.