Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

A fascinating conditions hurdle with so many different permutations and there’s every chance of a turn-up given the slight doubts about those at the front end of the market. Jezki is obviously the big marquee name, but with talks of him being a genuine Stayers Hurdle contender and the fact he’s been off the track for 632-days might just make him vulnerable at a short price. Chasing was very much the target for Tombstone this season following his excellent novice campaign but the word is that he might need the run, while Renniti, as good as he is, could easily spit the dummy out given his patchy profile. If there is to be a shock of sorts, it might well come from an unlikely route for many in the shape of INDIAN MONSOON (best price 25-1). First of all, the son of Monsun comes here in great shape following an impressive victory at Cork, when he showed a nice turn of foot late on in the conditions and secondly, his time figures for his last two performances suggests he can cope with a rise up in class. Whether he’ll turn out to be good enough is open for debate, but his trainer Charles Byrnes is one of the sharpest bulbs on the tree, so if he sees fit to run his charge in a race of this nature, that’s good enough for me. Either way, at 25-1, he has to be worth a small interest to find out how god he is.

Harry Fry is having a stellar season and in the shape of NEON WOLF (NAP) (best price 5-2), the Dorset handler might just have another youngster ready to put his name in lights. Strongly fancied when making a winning debut in a bumper at Uttoxeter, the son of Vinnie Roe was equally impressive on his hurdling bow at Exeter last time out. Off the back of sound fractions set by Coole Cody (run well since), this former point-to-point winner exhibited plenty of speed as well as stamina to score with plenty in hand at the West Country venue, and in a race that probably lacks the quality of previous renewals, this looks a decent opportunity for him to make the seamless transition to Graded company.

There are plenty of ‘sexy’ types set to face the starter in what looks a classy renewal of this prestigious prize, but in what should turn out to be a proper test in the conditions, the ideal candidate might have to grind out a result and VINTAGE CLOUD (best price 11-1) fits that bill to a tee. Although yet to win over fences in three starts, Sue Smith’s charge has run to a pretty high standard and hailing from a stable that always seems to pull a rabbit out of the hat in races of this nature, he fits the profile of many of their previous winners down the years. Clearly at home over this flat, galloping track when the mud is flying - as form figures of 12222 testify - the son of Cloudings can maintain those excellent stats despite many being put off with him being out of the weights.

PISTOL PARK (best price 11-4) has been pitched in against some fair novices so far this season and having come through with flying colours in all three starts, Brian Ellison’s charge rates a strong fancy to get back on the winning trail. Fourth in a hot handicap at Carlisle three starts ago, the Poliglote gelding gained his just rewards for that effort with a victory at Newcastle and although he failed in his bid to follow up last time out, he still came out well on the figures with a solid performance behind the progressive Burtons Well. The form of that soundly-run affair at the Midland track has already received a boost with Rock Gone winning next time out at Wetherby, and with ground and track to suit, the six-year-old looks fairly solid punting material off his current mark.

The way SWANSWAY (best price 3-1) was ridden to victory here last time out was very much a blueprint of the tactics used by many previous winner at this track (over 50% winners here held up) and providing he’s given a similar patient ride from the back of the field again, Mick Easterby’s charge can follow up. Held up in last place in the early stages, the son of Showcasing made his move at two furlong pole and showing a nice turn of foot for a horse of his grade, he readily pulled clear late on. Not only was the performance visually impressive, the numbers he posted backed up that view and receiving only a 4lb rise in the ratings subsequently shouldn’t be enough to stop him from continuing his upward curve.