Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

HURRICANE ALI (best price 3/1) put in his usual decent shift at this level when last seen at Stratford and now returning to a track where he is unbeaten in three previous starts, John Mackie’s likeable campaigner is fancied to keep that enviable record intact.

Disappointing at Cartmel on soft ground the time before, quicker conditions were more in his favour at the Midland venue two months ago and although he couldn’t quite go with the front two on the run-in, his performance to finish a close-up third still registered well in terms of summer jumping form and time figures.

For whatever reason, however, he seems to save his best displays for today’s course and brush hurdles and hailing from a stable who’s last two runners have both won, the seven-year-old can do his own little bit for his handler’s good form.

ALICE KNYVET (best price 3/1) has taken a little while longer than anticipated to fully blossom, but on the evidence of her latest display at Leicester, she looks set to continue her progression in handicaps.

Too keen for her own good on her first two starts of the season, a hood was introduced in a bid to settle her down at Bath next time, and although she improved her demeanour accordingly, she still failed to get off the mark. However, with the headgear dispensed with at the Midland venue 15 days ago, she finally put it all together and in doing so, she ended up clocking a very smart time for the grade.

Since then, the third home has gone on to boost the form and with today’s track likely to play into her strengths, Harry & Roger Charlton’s filly can win the battle of the three-year-olds.

BEAUPARC (best price 11/2) has caught the eye on more than one occasion in some useful maidens and with a profile to suggest handicaps have been at the back of connections’ mind all along, Gerad Keane’s filly can make an immediate impact in this new discipline.

Shaping reasonably well on her debut over seven furlongs at Galway a month ago, the daughter of Free Eagle was sent out again very quickly to do duty over a mile at Naas and once again, she showed more promise than the bare result suggested, running on nicely under tender handling from the rear late on.

Dropping back to six furlongs at the Curragh last time was a clear indication she was a handicap project in the making and given the way she finished off her race in the latter stages, she clearly needs a stiffer test – which today’s 1m1f journey will offer. Off an opening mark of 60 and Colin Keane booked, it will be disappointing if she fails to live up to expectations.

EXTENSIO (best price 3/1) arrives here at the peak of his powers based on his last three runs and having gained a confidence-boosting success over hurdles on the most recent of the trio, the six-year-old rates a strong choice to follow up back on the Flat.

Always likely to be outpaced over a mile on his seasonal bow, since then Pat O’Donnell’s gelding knocked at the door in two hugely competitive staying handicaps and with the latter performance at the Curragh deserving of being upgraded considering where he was turning for home, it was no surprise to see him make a successful start to his National Hunt career at Roscommon next time.

The way he travelled before dispensing of subsequent winner Reverend Hubert 30 days ago (decent speed figure) highlighted a horse going places fast and with the distinct possibility of a soundly run affair ensuing here tonight, the son of Xtension should be in his element.

CIVIL LAW (best price 6/1) hasn’t had the chance to shine on his last two runs, largely due to the fact he doesn’t really like Kempton, but now returning to a venue where his form figures read 121117, Roger Teal’s grey can make a bold bid to maintain that fine record.

Never a threat at the Sunbury venue when last seen 92 days ago, the six-year-old is better judged on his performances here over the course of the last two seasons and his record of not finishing out of the first two might have been maintained if he’d got anything like a clear run when a well-backed favourite to land a similar handicap to the one he faces today back in February.

Prior to that unlucky effort, the son of Dark Angel posted some useful numbers when going back-to-back over today’s C&D and a repeat of something in the same ballpark should see him somewhere on the premises.