Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

A good deal depends on how much rain the track soaks up in the next 24 hours, but if the course does get the amounts predicted, TERREFORT (best price 9-2) will be in his element more than most. Since bursting onto the scene from France, Nicky Henderson’s inmate has created a favourable impression and his victory at Sandown last time out in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novice’ Chase was a performance of some courage and class. Despite getting hooked up in a speed dual with the very slick Cyrname, the son of Martaline, never flinched, and in breaking the heart of his main rival that day, he unsurprisingly clocked a very fast time. Although he has made the running, he doesn’t necessarily have to lead (probably safer tactics given how races have panned out at this meeting) and having proven that he stays this trip really well off the back of rapid fractions, the five-year-old gelding should be right in the thick of the action.

Despite a whole host of attempts with many high-profile horses in the past, this hasn’t been a race to savour for the green and gold colours of J.P Mcmanus, but that hoodoo has a good chance of being broken as the legendry-owner sends GLENLOE (best price 7-1), Sort It Out and PROTEK DES FLOS (best price 25-1) to post with solid claims. The former has had this race as his main target ever since qualifying for this final in eye-catching style at Leopardstown back in December and having run well in many big-field handicaps over the last few seasons, he looks tailor made for the rigours of this contest. The latter needs a bit more imagination, but if you are prepared to scratch his last run from calculations – albeit not a total tragic effort – in a slowly run race at Huntingdon, Nicky Henderson’s charge has better prospects than his odds imply. Given a proper test of heavy ground at Wincanton on Boxing Day, the six-year-old really came into his own and with conditions this afternoon likely to find many of these out in the latter stages, this strong stayer should be keeping on better than most. Sort It Out is the other to enter calculations – especially for those that like to play quite a few in races of this nature – and his run last time out in the final Irish qualifier was drenched with promise.

Without question, the best singular piece of form in this category coming into the Festival was the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and having proved himself without doubt that he belongs in that sort of company, SAM SPINNER (best price 4-1) sets a very high standard based on his performance that day. Going into that contest 82 days ago off the back of an impressive all-the-way display at Haydock, Jedd O’Keeffe’s inmate was well backed to justify the impression he created at the Lancashire track and in beating some of the best stayers around in emphatic fashion, he jumped from quality handicapper to a top-class performer in one fell swoop. A good jumper with an attitude to match his stamina, it’s hard not to see this likeable type not running well. Runner-up that day back in December, L’AMI SERGE (best price 12-1), knows more about the game than the entire field put together, but he also has plenty of class on his day and he has to be worth a dart at his double-figures just for the sport. Smuggled into the race at the Berkshire track from well off the speed, Nicky Henderson’s inmate was delivered to have every chance at the last, but the fact he had to make up a lot of ground just to get to the eventual winner, ended up being his downfall in the final calculations. Unlucky when encountering a whole pile of trouble when reverting to fences at Doncaster last time out, this ultra-consistent type, who often comes good at the is time of year, can supply each-way backers with plenty of cheer.

Having landed a race similar race to this according to field-size and quality at Leopardstown, LAST GOODBYE (best price 12-1) looks booked to give connections a decent spin at a course where he’s gone well in the past. In a strongly-run affair at the Dublin venue, Liz Doyle’s inmate – who was sporting the blinker/tongue-tie combination for the first time - took his field apart in the latter stages with a devastating burst of speed and with the form of the race working out to a tee since (Uncle Danny, De Benno, Coeur Joyeux and Goulane Davina all run well subsequently) there’s every reason to feel upbeat about his chance. On top of the list of positives, the son of Milenary had run well in the big novices’ handicap at last season’s festival despite being badly hampered four out and that experience should also stand him in good stead for today’s examination.