Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

As we know, jumping is very much the name of the game at the Esher venue and that’s the key attribute to HOLLYWOODIEN’S (best price 7-2) game, so he should relish taking on the famous fences down the back straight. Very much the star of the show at the Tom Symonds yard, the son of Martiline technique was once again seen to good effect on his latest start at Wetherby when making virtually all the running, he ran out a comfortable winner of a class 3 affair. Although he could have done without the presence of the other confirmed front runner in the line-up, De Faoithesdream, it’s not in tablets of stone that he has to lead, but either way, this spring-healed grey has plenty of likeable qualities to make him an enticing wager whatever the circumstances.

Capitaine sets the standard based on his victory in a useful Grade 2 contest at Ascot last time out, but he did enjoy the luxury of an uncontested lead on good ground that day, so he could well be worth taking on with FINIAN’S OSCAR (best price 7-4) who looked a novice of some potential on his hurdling debut at Hereford last time out. Nicely backed beforehand, Colin Tizzard’s inmate was always travelling well in the hands of Tom O’Brien and in readily pulled clear of the strongly-fancied previous C&D winner Acting Lass, he clocked the sort of numbers which befitted his reputation. Although he showed plenty of stamina that day, it’s clear that he’s not short of boot either based on those findings at the Midland track, and with the rain falling in the last 24 hours likely to make this a proper test, his ability to stay beyond 2m might be the tipping point in his favour.

The form of the race won by TRANS EXPRESS (NAP) (best price 9-2) at Exeter has been well and truly advertised by those in behind him that day and with his favoured testing conditions once again in evidence, Sue Gardner’s inmate is fancied to follow up. In beating the likes of Rocklander, Lord Of The Island and Space Oddity, the Trans Island gelding not only advertised his wellbeing, but he posted a set of figures suggesting he could easily take a step up in class in his stride and being as the latter part of that contest was his strongest, today’s step up in trip should suit.

Alan King can do little wrong at present and his good run looks set to continue with CHOCALA (best price 9-2) in this concluding handicap hurdle. A smart performer on the level, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar has made a decent fist of his four starts to date over hurdles and although he’s yet to get his head in front up to now, his level of form suggests it can be only a matter of time before sheds the maiden tag. Indeed, last time out at Wincanton he ran to a very decent standard when he chased home subsequent winner Strong Pursuit in a well-run affair, and a repeat of that display should be good enough to see him hit the frame at the very least.

Paul Nicholls has set punters a poser here saddling the front two in the betting, but despite the market suggesting otherwise, it wouldn’t come as the biggest shock in the world if second favourite BLACK VALENTINE (best price 4-1) were to gain stable bragging rights. Sent off a warm order on his rules debut, this former point winner had to really work hard to gain the day against his main two rivals in the market that afternoon, but despite his rawness, there was plenty to like about his attitude towards the job at hand. Having already handled soft ground between the flags, the son of Stowaway should be well at home with the prevailing underfoot conditions and this 3m chasing prospect can keep on the right track before tackling sterner tests in the future.