Thursday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

TWILIGHT ROMANCE (best price 5/1) ticks pretty much every box available when it comes to assessing this sales race and John Quinn’s colt is a strong choice to back up his previous C&D win.

Silky smooth in all departments on the Knavesmire back in June, the son of Twilight Son was a warm order in his bid to follow up at Pontefract last time and although he failed to deliver the goods, his performance in defeat wasn’t without merit.

On a card when being positioned widest of all under the stands’ side rail was a huge advantage, he ended up rowing against the tide once one of his main rivals, We Never Stop, jumped on the fastest part of the track, but at least he kept on valiantly enough to run out a creditable second and the time figure he posted suggested he’d run equally as well as the time before.

Presumably saved for this race ever since, his knowledge of today’s track, ground conditions and favourable draw all point towards him being a massive player despite the competitive nature of the field.

NORTHERN EXPRESS (best price 13/2) is about a reliable as a Swiss clock in races of this nature – particularly on the Knavesmire – so unless something disastrous takes place, Michael Dods’ gelding looks set to play a major part in this competitive mile handicap.

A smooth winner of the Thirsk Hunt Cup earlier in the season despite unsuitable soft ground, the five-year-old chestnut arguably performed to a higher standard even in defeat when third in a hugely competitive handicap over today’s C&D at the Dante meeting next time out and since then, he has continued to thrive.

An excellent third to subsequent Group 3 winner Witch Hunter at Royal Ascot reads well in the context of today’s race and another solid effort on his return to the Berkshire venue last time out suggests he is still bringing his A-game to the table.

Although only seventh in this race last year, he is undoubtedly a much more reliable proposition a year on and with fast ground very much in his favour, a reasonable early position from his decent draw (Stall 6) should be a good platform for him to launch his challenge down the straight.

BLUESTOCKING (best price 13/2) hasn’t quite got the accolades her endeavours deserve so far this season, but with so many factors finally in her favour, Ralph Beckett’s filly can prove once and for all, she is one of the best of her generation over this trip.

Shaping as though in need of the run when runner-up to Warm Heart at Newbury, the daughter of Camelot had another crack at her old rival in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot next time and although the bare result suggested she may have taken a backward step, the reality was totally the opposite.

Trapped in a pocket a crucial stage rounding the home turn and into the straight at the Berkshire venue, by the time she had extricated herself, the winner had flown but her performance at least gave connections belief she belonged on the big stage and, as a result, she was sent to The Curragh to contest the Group 1 Irish Oaks for her latest encounter.

For nine tenths of the 1m4f journey, she travelled like the best filly but having hit the front inside the final furlong, the superior stamina under the prevailing conditions of Savethelastdance proved to be her undoing and she had to settle for an honourable second.

However, faster ground today is most definitely in her favour and against her main rival and hailing from a stable that continues to thrive in all departments, this scopey filly can finally get her day in the sun.

An intriguing race containing many progressive, in-form three-year-olds and of the sextet, the John Murphy-trained pair, SPACE AGE (best price 6/1) and HELTER SKELTER (best price 8/1) appear to be slightly underestimated in the market.

The former gained stable bragging rights with an overdue success at Tipperary last time out and given the way he travelled before quickening away from his rivals that day, he seemed a totally different proposition to the horse who disappointed at The Curragh the time before.

Good on the data 13 days ago, he can hopefully carry forward that new-found confidence into the remainder of the season and hailing from a yard that do well at this venue (41 career winners), the son of Make Believe can give it a good lash in a bid to add to that tally.

The latter had little chance of laying a glove on his stable mate at the Limerick Junction track due to an appealing start, but the fact he managed to cut the deficit down to a respectable one at the finish bears testimony to his natural ability.

Based on the laws of probability, he should know a good bit more this time around and a better break should see him easily outrun his morning odds.

There is no denying Jesse Evans has the look of a potentially well handicapped horse on his return to the Flat, but whether SHANROE (best price 14/1) deserves to be sixteen times his price is open to question and Karl Thornton’s gelding rates a strong each-way alternative to the favourite.

After unseating his rider at an early stage at Limerick on his season bow, his latest encounter at Galway effectively became his first run for four months and despite the layoff, he had the necessary requirements to lower the colours of several popular and useful stayers in a 1m6f conditions event.

Untouched by the assessor despite that convincing success, the nine-year-old heads back in the direction of handicap company off a mark lower than the one that allowed him to only get beaten three lengths in last year’s Ebor at York and having been successful on his only start over today’s C&D, hope is high he will make a bold bid to add to his tally.

WATERGRANGE JACK (best price 6/1) benefitted greatly from being given a more patient ride at Worcester last time out and with similar tactics likely to be the order of the day once again, Neil Mulholland’s inmate has the game to repeat the dose.

Disappointing when aggressively ridden at Uttoxeter back in July, connections clearly didn’t want to make the same mistake twice at the Midland venue a month later and, after being held up to come with a late run, the seven-year-old proved to be a totally different proposition.

In what turned out to be a well-run affair for the grade, he finished his race off with plenty of purpose to lead close home and with the data from the contest 23 days ago suggesting he had run to a career high; a performance of a similar standard should see him go close again.