Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LADY BOBA (best price 40-1) has been running well among a pool of fillies just below top class and she looks well worth a shot at group 1 level based on her form and speed figures. 

Just touched off by Queen Of The Pride at Haydock on her seasonal bow, the form of the race has worked out well with the likes of Mistral Star and Caernarfon winning since, and she went on to run to an even higher standard back at the Merseyside track last time out behind her old rival. 

Although ben further by John & Thady Gosden’s improving filly 26 days ago, the data suggests she shifted the needle considerably in term of her performance levels and with the Beckett team off the mark at the meeting with a nice winner here yesterday, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility this consistent seven-year-old can maintain her record of never being out of the money. 

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GOING LIVE (best price 10-1) could never lay a glove on all-the-way winner Golden Temple at Roscommon last time out but even so, his effort still represented a big jump in terms of his overall performance levels on the figures and, with today’s stiffer track likely to play more into his strengths, Gordon Elliott’s gelding is good enough to get among some of the more fancied rivals. 

Having come from the point field and won over a stiff track previously, there was always a chance the sharp, flat nature of Roscommon might find him out and although that theory partly rang true 52 days ago, he still had enough quality to see off the likes of Le Coq Hardi and Club Manager in the battle for second. 

Posting a useful time figure in defeat, he should be more versed than many of handling a well-run contest and hailing from a yard who got off the mark here yesterday with a similar type, the five-year-old has a better chance than his odds imply of following suit.

A race that rarely goes to export so, despite the presence of UK raider Under Control in the line-up, the safest option is to concentrate on the home-based runners. 

Having captured the prize five times in the last decade, it would come as no surprise if any of the eight participants from the Willie Mullins yard were to oblige but both MY MATE MOZZIE (best price 10-1) and GORGEOUS TOM (best price 10-1) could have a say of their own and they are taken against the field. 

The former as a vast amount of experience in big field handicaps, both over jumps and on the Flat, and his third in this race last year is indicative of his class. Just as good over fences in the interim, he warmed up for a repeat bid with a fine effort in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and his preparation looks to have been timed to perfection.

The latter would have probably had this race on his agenda ever since signing off with a victory at the Punchestown Festival back in April and he looks just the type to go well in a race of this nature. A sweet traveller with a useful turn of foot, drying ground will suit him more than most and he still looks south of where he will likely up in the ratings. 

Adrian Ketley has been quietly working his way back to the top table and BILL’S BAAR (best price 8-1), albeit on a slightly smaller scale here, can provide the Yorkshire handler with another decent pot on a big stage. 

Strongly supported on his latest outing at York despite dropping back in trip, the son of Elzaam only narrowly failed to land the gamble but at the same time, he did leave the impression he may be seen to better effect back over a mile. 

Good on the numbers at the Knavesmire, he proved that he can cope with a big-field, strongly run handicap and from reasonable draw in stall 8, another solid effort looks on the cards.

The feature of this year’s Northumberland Plate was the strong pace throughout and, having gone well for nine tenths of the journey, DUKE OF OXFORD (best price 11-2) is fancied to make a big impact at a much lower level. 

Posted out in the coffin box in stall 20 of 20, Michael Bell’s inmate spent most of the race out in the cheap seats but to his great credit, he still came through full of running to lead at the two- furlong pole looking as though he was sure to win. 

Despite being gobbled up by two deep closers late on, he still came out of the race with a huge amount of credit and with today’s 1m6f journey likely to prove ideal, the class act of the contest can add to his victory on his only other start at tonight’s track.