Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

As always at this time of year, the three-year-olds command the utmost respect against the older brigade but there’s one thing for sure, LORD MASSUSUS (best price 15-2) won’t give up his crown lightly and he rates a solid-looking each-way alternative to Ylang Ylang at the morning odds. 

Joseph Murphy’s gelding lowered the colours of the well-fancied three-year-old Alfred Munnings in this race twelve months ago and other than one modest effort over 1m2f in Group 1 company,  by and large he’s turned in a decent shift at every other gig. 

A cosy winner at the Curragh over a mile two starts ago, the four-year-old just found Poet Master too hot to handle when dropping back down in trip on his return to the Kildare venue last time but he did still manage to finish ahead of his old rival, Mutasarref, who is a fair guide at Group 3 level. 

Only unplaced once in four starts at tonight’s track, and that was over seven furlongs on soft ground, he has enough credit in the bank to make him a bet under the prevailing conditions.

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ETOLIE D’ALEXANDRE (best price 13-2) did precious little wrong when bidding to follow up her previous victory at Lingfield last time out and with the strong possibility she will be brought over towards the normally favoured stands side rail from her high draw (stall 11 of 11), George Boughey’s filly can continue her progression. 

Extremely good on the figures when scoring on seasonal bow after a 373-day break, the daughter of Starspangledbanner was strongly fancied to repeat the dose in the same grade against her own sex at the Surrey venue four days later, but despite being well positioned from the start, she couldn’t quite get to grips with all the way winner All Algeam in the latter stages. 

Good on the clock for the second time in succession, the recent equipment change has clearly worked in her favour and now reacquainted with Billy Loughnane, another positive outcome looks on the cards.

CONNIE’S ROSE (best price 12-1) fared well in the face of a poor draw at Sandown last time out and now heading back in the direction of a track she knows better than any horse in this race, Grace Harris’ mare rates a sporting choice to cause a mini upset. 

Stuck out wide during the entire duration of the five-furlong journey at the Esher track, the five-year-old kept on well in the face of adversity and it was another effort to suggest she remains in top shape. Prior to that commendable display, she scored in game fashion when making all the running at Leicester and that’s the second time she has managed to get her head in front since the cheekpieces have been applied. 
 

Winner of five of her of her 18 starts at today’s Welsh track from 5/6f, her overall record reads 326113331251263213 and this locally trained mare looks set to outrun her morning odds judged on those impressive stats.