Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SUNNY STREET (NAP) (best price 15/8) is gradually getting closer to breaking his duck and having posted his best speed figure against a well-regarded Godolphin runner at Wolverhampton last time out, he carries forward plenty of confidence on handicap debut off what appears a workable mark.

Upped to a mile after two promising efforts over seven furlongs, James Tate’s colt seemed to be going best when joining a rival who cost a cool 750k at the two-furlong pole but no sooner had he marginally headed the well supported favourite, he couldn’t respond when the eventual winner found an extra gear for pressure and he ended up having to settle for a honourable second.

Although he faces several with a mild amount of promise here this afternoon, it would be a surprise if there’s anything remotely the same calibre against him on this occasion and with a profile to suggest he could easily take his game to another level, he’s strongly fancied to press home that viewpoint.

HERE COMES GEORGIE (best price 3/1) has improved with each run over hurdles and with his latest effort being the pick of the pile based on the figures, a repeat of something similar should provide him with every opportunity of making it two on the bounce.

Runner-up to subsequent winner Bugise Seagull here two starts ago, Patrick Neville’s gelding was dropped slightly in trip at Carlisle last time out and under an aggressive ride, he saw off a whole host of challengers in the final half a mile.

Posting a useful speed figure at the Yorkshire track, the six-year-old had the form of his victory boosted by the fourth home at Leicester yesterday and with positive tactics around today’s sharp circuit likely to be the order of the day, he’s taken to give short-priced favourite, Hasthing a proper workout.

GOLDSMITH (best price 5/2) found a decent turn of foot for a horse of his grade when bouncing back to his best form at Wolverhampton last time out and providing he receives a reasonable pace to shoot at dropping back in trip, Alice Haynes’ gelding can score for the fourth time on the all-weather.

A horse who often languishes in the rear throughout the early part of his races, the five-year-old once again found himself in familiar territory at the Midland venue but despite his plight, he managed to pull off an unlikely victory with a tremendous burst of speed in the closing stages.

Since his win 15 days ago, the form/speed figure has been boosted by fourth placed horse Charlie’s Choice and with at least three front runners in the field, a truly run mile should be just about in his wheelhouse.

LOVE DE VEGA (best price 16/5) did remarkably well in the circumstances to finish runner-up at Kempton last time out and having been slightly unlucky not to register a victory over tonight’s previously, the combination of those two factors makes Charlie Johnston’s entire a strong choice to gain compensation.

Drawn stall 11 of 11 at the Sunbury track last time out, the son of Lope De Vega was always likely sacrifice ground he could ill afford to lose in a tightly knit affair but despite being a uncompromising position turning for home, he still managed to close down the winner in the final two furlongs to get the deficit to a respectable margin.

Clearly in excellent shape on the evidence of that effort, the five-year-old chestnut return to the scene of a narrow margin defeat at the hands of revitalised Miami Thunder (first run for George Scott) over tonight’s C&D and with a good break from his favourable inside draw, he’s fancied to be there or thereabouts at the business end.