Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BREIHZ RIVER (best price 3-1) just found one too good in the shape of One More Stroke at Carlisle last time out but as the data from that race 21 days ago suggested it was a fair effort in defeat by Pauline Robson’s gelding, he is given another chance to crack the code on his fourth outing over hurdles.

A respectable fourth on his previous start after a 100-day break at Newcastle, the six-year-old was still sent off one of the outsiders at the Cumbrian track but much to the surprise of many, he performed way better than expectations, pushing the well-fancied winner all the way to the line.

Time wise, the son of Stormy River went way beyond what he’d previously achieved and a repeat of something similar should see him put up another bold bid in a race lacking any great strength in depth.

MAGICAL KING (best price 11-2) gained a well-deserved and overdue success over today’s course last time out and with his mark heading into that contest unaffected by the outcome, Stuart Edmonds’ gelding can be seen to equally good advantage back in handicap company.

Sporting the cheekpieces for the first time at the Yorkshire venue, the five-year-old chestnut travelled sweetly throughout and although the outcome was still in the balance when his main rival, Willsburg, fell at the last, the general feeling was he would have won anyway.

Not quite up to the level required of a top-quality Class 3 event at Sandown previously, today’s opposition looks well within his grasp and hailing from a stable who continue to go on the rampage, he rates a decent each-way proposition at the morning odds.

KING OF YORK (best price 9-2) has enjoyed a very productive all-weather campaign, winning twice, and being placed on numerous other occasions, and with the latest of his performances easily one of his best both on the eye and the clock, Scott Dixon’s gelding can out in another bold bid to add to his tally. 

As is sometimes the case with the son of Kingman, he was a little slow to gather stride eight days ago, but such was his finishing kick down the straight, he managed to come from last to first in a relatively short space of time to land the prize with a bit to spare. 

Whether there’s an argument to be made he’s slightly better over a truly run seven furlongs than a mile, he still rates a solid each-way proposition at a track he knows so well.