Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

JAYAREBE (NAP) (best price 5-2) ran out an extremely impressive winner of the Fielden Stakes on his seasonal bow and with the form receiving an almighty boost with third-placed Caviar Heights winning back at the same track last week, it makes perfect sense to stay loyal to Brian Meehan’s potential superstar. 

Travelling well at the head of affairs down to halfway, the Zoffany colt edge into the outright lead two furlongs out and from that point he maintained the relentless gallop all the line to line to score by an ever-increasing three and a quarter length. 

Not only good visually but just as impressive on the clock, the way he ran through the line at HQ strongly suggested he should have no problem with further in time and providing Sean Levey can get the fractions right either from the front, or just on the shoulder of main market rival God’s Window, he has the necessary qualities to shine on the way to even greater heights. Not entered in any Classic yet, that scenario could all change after today. 

INDEPENDENT EXPERT (best price 8-1) never received enough room to fully stretch her legs in a competitive heat at The Curragh last time out and she is strongly fancied to cast aside that unlucky episode and return to the sort of form that allowed her to run out an impressive winner at Cork previously. 

Held up towards the rear at the Kildare track, Andrew Slattery’s mare was beginning to move into contention when the door slammed in her face approaching the final furlong and from that point onwards, she had to just sit and suffer. Finishing hard on the bridle, it’s safe to conclude she would have contended for a place at the very least with the clear run and with that in mind, it makes little sense why she has been chalked up double the price of Fast Tara and Simply Sideways, who were all out to finish just ahead of her. 

Winner of a competitive affair at the Mallow track on her season bow, with Simply Sideways once again well beaten back in fifth, the time figure she posted that day suggested she has improved for a winter break and run well on her two previous outings at today’s venue, another solid effort looks on the cards on her return visit.

KNOW THE GAME (best price 5-1) did well in the circumstances to finish a close-up second to Another Ocana at Limerick last time out and with that solid effort proof that a recent edition of a tongue tie is having the desired effect, Tom Dreaper’s gelding is fancied to turn around form with old rival Freddie Robdal. 

Held up towards the rear while the front-running Sunnyvilla knocked out strong fractions at the head affairs, the eight-year-old made up a huge amount of ground to race on the heels of the leaders turning for home and although he looked the likeliest winner at the last, the effort to make up the thick of 20 lengths in the final mile ultimately took its toll and he was run out of the argument close home. 

Not quite as agonising as his short head defeat at Tramore earlier in the campaign, it’s fair to say the son of Califet deserves a change of luck and having gone well on his only start at today’s venue this time last year, hope is high he can erase a few unwanted recent memories.