Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding featuring four from Punchestown

Gavin Cromwell has already enjoyed a fruitful meeting and there’s a strong possible the Co Meath handler will gain further success with CLUB MANAGER (best price 11-1) in this wide-open curtain raiser to day three. 

Promising without troubling the judge in three starts over hurdles, the four-year-old was pitched into handicap company for the first time at Bellewstown just eight days ago and despite relatively easy to back – especially from a yard that knows the price of fish – he won in style of a horse who was well ahead of his mark. 

Always travelling sweetly behind a strong pace, the son of Nathanial was produced with a menacing-looking run on the approach to the last and with a slick jump, he landed with plenty of momentum that allowed him to scamper clear on the run-in. Posting a smart speed figure for the grade, he left the impression he had far more to offer for further down the line and with conditions likely to be similar to what he encountered at one of his local tracks, he is fancied to take advantage of the fact he just squeezed into this valuable prize by the skin of his teeth. 

Of the rest, it’s hard to argue against HOLLY (best price 6-1) not being favourite for this race having pushed Brentford Hope all the way at Haydock last time and we saw what Harry Derham’s inmate did here on the opening day behind the extremely smart Daddy Long Legs. 

Clearly very talented and capable of running to a good level when conditions are in her favour, the lightly-raced seven-year-old is a must for the shortlist. 

Sometimes if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck and in the case of BLOOD DESTINY (NAP) (best price 13-8) in this novices’ handicap, he should turn out to be as good as he looks on paper. 
Although he was quite impressive in beating the smart Heart Wood on his chase debut over 2m4f, he left the impression next time, the trip wasn’t necessary what he required if wanting to better his career at a higher level over fences and the same circumstances came to pass at Fairyhouse last time. 

Held up to get the trip, Willie Mullins’ inmate was produced with his challenge in between the last two fences but as it turned out, his engine cut out on the run-in and he ended up having to settle for an honourable third place behind yesterday’s hero Spillane’s Tower. 

Much better judged on his victory over his old rival over two miles previously, that form is by million miles the best on offer in the context of today’s heat and with a mark of 150 considered not too penal based on the competition he’s faced so far this season, it would come as a huge surprise if he didn’t provide his Closutton handler with yet another winner this week. 

KINTURK KALANISI (best price 12-1) has been keeping pretty good company since joining the hurdling ranks and a reproduction of any of his most recent exploits should see Thomas Gibney’s gelding play a significant role in the outcome of this staying prize. 

Aimed at the final of the EBF Series at Fairyhouse last time out, the six-year-old looked like he might pull off the long-term plan when picking up the running travelling best at the second last but no sooner had he hit the front, he began to wander under pressure and he ended up getting run out of the argument late on. 

That said, he still produced a career high on the figures at the Meath track and having run well on the two starts over today’s course, the son of Kalanisi can go well again for local connections. 

DUBAI STATION (best price 15-2) rejoined forces with his old boss Robert Cowell to good effect at Yarmouth last time out and if the numbers are correct from that contest, he should go well back at a track that has served him well in the past. 

Largely in the doldrums since landing a six-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton this time last season, the seven-year-old had tumbled from a mark of 95 to a perch of 78 before arriving at the seaside venue and if it wasn’t for the power-packed finish of Kuwait City up the stands’ side rail, he would have taken advantage of the generosity afforded to him by the assessor. 

Although that agonising defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for connections, his speed figure was such that he proved he is well back on track and with today’s C&D one of the four separate venues where he has managed to register a victory in the past, confidence is high he can put up a bold show against hot favourite, Laoisman.