Just three bets from Andy today but they include a FOUR-POINT nap!
1.50 Lingfield
ATTAIN (best price 9-2) shaped with a good deal more promise than his finishing position suggested at Wolverhampton last time out and he looks poised to go well returning to the scene of some of his finest performances. Entitled to need the run off the back of a 135-day break, the Dansili gelding was noted making some nice late headway when getting chopped for room in the latter stages (probably would have finished second) and given that effort came at a trip some way short of his best, it’s logical to expect a certain amount of improvement to come over a C&D where his form figures read 24013171314.
3.10 Newbury
BAGS GROOVE (NAP) (best price 5-6) clearly caught a tartar in the shape of the hugely exciting Jenkins on hurdles debut (best novice hurdle run so far this season) and he now gets the chance to have his moment in the limelight without seemingly anything of that class in the line-up. Although he wasn’t good enough to cope with Nicky Henderson’s star on the day, he did impress by the way he finished off his race in the closing stages and, given that he’s got an extra three furlongs to race over this time around, it would be disappointing if the son of Oscar fails to justify his position in the market at a track that clearly plays into his strengths (second in a bumper on his other previous visit). Long term, he looks like the ideal type for the Albert Bartlett later in the season, so for those that enjoy a little ante-post action, he may be worth considering even at this early stage around the 33-1 mark.
4.05 Kempton
Harry Spiller’s team have been in decent nick of late and CAPTAIN PUGWASH (best price 7-1) can keep up the good work for the Newmarket handler in this run-of-the-mill maiden following a promising start to his career over tonight’s course 28 days ago. Slowly away from his outside draw, the son of Sir Prancelot found himself with only two behind him as the field swung for home, but finishing his race off nicely from the three-furlong pole, he worked his way into a never-nearer fifth at the finish. Much better drawn in trap 3 this evening, there’s no reason why he won’t be more competitive now that he’s had that initial experience under his belt and he rates the value call in a race that contains only a handful of serious contenders.
With the National Hunt season now in full swing here is your opportunity to access Andy Holding’s unique speed figures for all UK and Irish meetings. For more details go to andyholdingspeedfigures.co.uk.
