Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

THE BUSY FOOL (best price 7-1) has had quite a bit count against him since landing a bumper at Thurles in decent style earlier in the campaign and he is afforded another chance to prove he remains a progressive young novice worth keeping on side. 

Clocking a smart figure when off the mark at the first time of asking back in October, the six-year-old was seemingly going just as well as hot favourite Better Times Ahead departed the scene at the third last on his hurdling debut a month later and if wasn’t for a monumental error at the very next flight, he would have surely landed an above-average maiden with a bit to spare.

Sent off a warm order to make amends after a 100-day break, the combination of a few mistakes and pulling too hard off a slow gallop ultimately cost him any chance he had of justifying favouritism and he ended up fading into third behind the useful pair, Paggane and Cut The Rope. 

On reflection, asking him to try and preserve his energy and stretch out beyond 2m4f has proved a tricky exercise, so today’s drop back to the minimum trip seems a wise move by connections and even though he faces two strong representatives from the Henry De Bromhead camp, of which Generous Tom makes the most appeal, Philip Rothwell’s gelding can more than hold his own.

FAULTY (best price 11-2) towered above his rival with a commanding performance at Down Royal last time out and with the speed figure backing up the visual aspect of the display, Noel Meade’s inmate rates a confident choice to work his way up the ranks. 

Useful in bumpers, with placed efforts behind the likes of King Of Kingsfield, Westport Cove and Lucky Lyreen on his cv, the seven-year-old has transferred all that ability over to hurdles and if it wasn’t for a slice of bad luck, he may be arriving here with more than one victory next to his name. Slipping up on the flat when going well at Punchestown over a year ago, the son of Dunaden would have landed a maiden hurdle back at the same track a year later but for two notable errors in the latter stages and it was easy to see why he was sent off 5-4 to make amends at the Co Down venue last time. 

Travelling well throughout a strongly run affair, he also jumped noticeably better than he had done on his two previous starts and it’s that natural speed he harbours that will hopefully make the difference here this afternoon. 

ROCK OPERA (best price 11-2) has run better than the bare form has suggested on several occasions this winter and with one such effort coming over today’s C&D in a strong handicap back in January, a return to the Dunstall Park venue can reap maximum rewards. 

Drawn out on the wing in stall 12 three months ago, Richard Fahey’s gelding had little choice but to be taken back towards the rear of the field and although he could never get himself into a position whereby, he had a sniff of the main players, he did run on well to gain an honourable fifth. 

Suffering a similar fate with the ballot at Southwell last time out, the four-year-old once again did as well as he could under the circumstances and with the data saying it was just as good a performance than the victory he achieved on his previous visit to the same track, a run of the same magnitude is likely to make a mockery of his morning odds.