Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

Following a sticky start to the campaign, Kerry Lee’s barn seems to be catching fire at the right time and old stable stalwart GREY GOLD (best price 4-1) has a chance of adding some Saturday silverware to the Herefordshire handler’s mantelpiece in this trappy-looking chase. A renown mudlark, the Strategic Choice gelding gave out clues that his return to winning ways could be imminent with his fine effort behind a rejuvenated Just Cameron at Wetherby last time out and having scored over today’s C&D in the past, he’s worth a small interest to see if he can roll back the years.

Following his eye-catching victory over tonight’s C&D last time, Project Bluebook is bound to be a popular choice to justify his switch to the JP McManus battalion, but despite his obvious claims, FORTH BRIDGE (best price 12-1) has a similar unexposed profile and he looks massively overpriced given the fact he’s also proved over today’s C&D. Although he wasn’t as impressive visually as John Quinn’s charge when getting off the mark at the second time of asking here 52-days ago, the son of Bernardini still clocked the sort of speed figure that suggests he’s a good deal better than his current rating and likely to be ridden aggressively from the front again, he rates a decent bet with and without the favourite.

Being one of the few horses to have given to very smart filly Let’s Dance a proper race at Punchestown two starts ago, SHATTERED LOVE (best price 9-4) come here with maximum respect and she receives a confident vote in what looks a classy mares’ only heat. Following that excellent effort at the Co Kildare venue, Gordon Elliot’s charge was seemingly getting the better of the argument when her main market rival, Asthuria, tipped up at the third last, and having also pushed subsequent Grade 1 winner Airlie Beach all the way earlier in the season, it’s clear that she has the beating of today’s field on all known form.

A one-time temperamental sort, BATTALION best price 9-2) seems to have turned over a new leaf since switching to new connections and his fine run of form looks set to continue in this battle of the AW middle-distance giants. Seemingly losing his way since landing a conditions contest over today’s C&D back in 2015, the son of Authorized bounced back to his very best when winning his first race in eight starts on his opening salvo for Jamie Osbourne and going on to prove that win was no fluke with an even more impressive display on his most recent outing, he arrives here in excellent shape. The feature of both of those performances has been the devastating turn of foot he’s exhibited in the closing stages, so providing he’s still in contention rounding the home turn, the in-form seven-year-old will be in with a great chance of completing the hat trick.

With a whole plethora of front runners in this star-studded line up, this race is likely to go the way of a hold-up performer who settles for sitting off the early speed and in the shape of LONDON PRIZE, Ian Williams’ charge should get the perfect platform to show off his skills. A useful stayer in the Flat, the son of Teofilo has transferred that ability to the winter game on the evidence of his three starts to date and following a solid performance when just nutted on the line by the ultra-game Bandsman at Market Rasen last time out, a positive display looks on the cards with the promise of more to come on ground that will suit.

AMI DESBOIS (NAP) (best price 2-1) has mixed it with some smart novices this season - proving his worth each time – and following a career-high performance in Grade 1 company at Newbury last time out, he should be capable of taking advantage of this huge drop in class. Runner-up to subsequent Grade 2 scorer Wholestone at Cheltenham the time before, Graeme McPherson’s inmate produced an exceptionally game effort to finish a close-up third to the potentially top-class Messire Des Obeaux at the Berkshire venue 35 days ago and having proven several times over that he doesn’t mind rolling his sleeves up and slogging it out in the mud, today’s testing conditions will suit him more than most.