Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

Defi Du Seuil sets the standard on the evidence of his course win back here at the last meeting, but he faces much stiffer opposition in the shape of DOMPERIGNON DU LYS (NAP) (best price 2-1) and Nicky Henderson’s charge gets the confident vote to topple the jolly. Having his first outing for new connections since winning a bumper in the French provinces, the son of Great Pretender ran out an impressive winner of a decent juvenile contest at Newcastle and that sets him up nicely for a tilt at this better grade. The feature of that performance at the Gosforth Park venue was the sound pace throughout and looking at his final circuit time compared to Irvine’s victory in the Fighting Fifth, it stacks up nicely against the Paul Nichols runner. The fact that he’s asked to race at Prestbury Park over the full Triumph Hurdle course clearly points towards connections wanting to find out whether their charge has what it takes with the Festival only three months away and providing he comes through this examination with flying colours, his current odds of 25-1 for that Grade 1 will alter dramatically.

Through no fault of his own, ZIGA BOY (best price 11-2) got no further than the first in the Becher Chase last Saturday, but that blip might turn out to be a blessing in disguise as he bids to gain quick compensation back at a track where he exceled last season. At his most impressive when scoring over today’s C&D – beating the likes of Coologue and Buywise – Alan King’s charge is clearly at his best when running over a flat left-handed track on good ground and he rates the value each-way pick in a wide-open race.

ASO (best price 8-1) came out of the Betvictor Gold Cup at the last meeting with great credit and he’s strongly fancied to play another significant role in the outcome of this similar affair 28 days on. Held up way off the pace early, Venetia Williams’ inmate was asked to make up a huge amount of ground in the hottest part of the race and, as a result, he couldn’t quite sustain his challenge all the way to the line on his first outing for 208 days. Moreover, he would have finished a good deal closer had he not taken the last two fences home as a souvenir and with that all important run under his belt and underfoot conditions likely to play into his hands following significant rain, the son of Goldneyev rates a solid-looking each-way play at 8-1.

MAJOR VALENTINE (best price 13-2) was a big eye-catcher here 15 days ago and he’s fancied to vindicate the impression he created that evening and turn the form around with eventual winner Swanton Blue. Held up going well just in behind the speed, John O’Shea’s charge didn’t get the breaks where many others did and finishing hard on the bridle without knowing he’d had a race he had to settle for fourth place. Nicely berthed again in stall four, hopefully the son of Major Cadeaux receives a smoother passage this time around as it was quite clear on the evidence of that latest display he’s fully capable of taking a race of this nature.

MYTHICAL MADNESS (best price 6-1) ran its face off on his first start for new connection last time out, and he’s taken to go close again despite racing over a furlong further. The feature of that contest won by Keystroke was the tremendous overall and sectional times for a round track race and given that David O’Meara’s charge was force to race wide for majority of the journey, his performance in finishing second deserves extra credit.