Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

Winner of the Burj Nahaar over a mile on this card twelve months ago, COOL COWBOY (best price 5-2) proved conclusively that he has the necessary tools to cope with two furlongs less last time out in the Al Shindagha sprint and having taken the scalp of short-price favourite, Muarrab, that day, there’s every chance he will uphold the form being much better drawn than his old rival. In a contest run at fairly tepid fractions for a Group 3 dirt contest, Doug Watson’s charge should have been the one most inconvenienced by the way the race unfolded, but showing a nice turn of foot to join the leader a furlong out, he then gradually asserted his superiority inside the distance. Well housed in box three to cover all angles, the Kodiac Kowboy gelding looks nailed on to give his true running, so therefore represents decent value at his top morning price.

All eyes will understandably be one Postponed as he bids to follow up last year’s success, but away from the obvious winner, REMBRANDT VAN RIJN makes plenty of appeal in the without the favourite market. A talented but sometimes frustrating character when trained in the UK by David Lanigan, the son of Peintre Celebre has run a series of solid races on the turf out in the desert and although he has a bit to find with some of these based on his official rating, he gives the impression he’s capable of running way beyond his mark if he finally gets a race run to suit. On both his last two starts, he’s been stranded out the back door as the field has turned for home, but to his eternal credit he’s managed to work his way into a podium finish from an unlikely source. Nicely drawn to get the ground-saving trip around the inside (had box 13 last time out), the blinkered six-year-old is more than capable of outrunning his odds if things pan out in his favour.

All the big track time-figure heavyweights’ line-up for the gig here, but given his current form – especially tied in with North America – HEAVY METAL (best price 7-2) just gets the slight vote. Coming a long way since beaten by Stormadal earlier in the campaign, Satish Seemar’s charge has won two of his last three starts in pretty fast times, and with his ability to break and maintain a decent gallop well suited to the questions asked on dirt, the Exceed And Excel gelding looks primed for another big performance. If there is to be a spoiler at a bigger price,ALABASTER  (best price 12-1) is certainly capable of gate crashing the party and even though he arrives here off the back of a defeat last time out, asked to race choke out from the start proved his undoing over 1m 2f. Dropping back in trip today, if he can break on terms(can be a bit sluggish in the early strides) and put himself in a striking position turning for home, his stamina should count for plenty in the latter stages.

Despite finishing last of nine here in a similar contest seven days ago, FRANCO’S SECRET (best price 18-1) left the impression he was a good bit better than that final finishing position suggested and he’s worth a small little interest to back up that view. Held up in traditional fashion, Peter Hedger’s charge was just beginning to get up a head of steam when he ran into a cul-de-sac approaching the final furlong and snatched and eased up from that point, he was allowed to come home in his own time. In cracking form prior to that unlucky episode, the Sakhee’s Secret gelding has the beating of some of today’s opponents on some of his previous performances and even allowing for the fact he’s a proper seat-of-the-pants ride who needs plenty of luck in running, his odds are well worth the risk.

Last year’s World Cup fourth Special Fighter would batter this field if anywhere near his best, but having his first run off the plane for 343-days, he might just need the run. With that in mind, there might be some value to be had among those at bigger odds, and the one that jumps off the page as being overpriced is Japanese raider TRIPLE NINE (best price 33-1). Although on both his two placed starts over today’s C&D he has looked totally bone idle during several stages of the race, the one thing he does do well is stay on strongly in the latter stages and he might just pick up the pieces late on at rewarding odds if he consents to put his best foot forward.

Although there’s a good possibility BEACH DANCER (best price 10-1) may be having a third and final run to obtain a handicap mark, William knight’s charge is a big enough price to justify a small little each-way interest just in case he’s allowed to run of his merits. Showing next to nothing first time out, the son of Footstepsinthesand improved dramatically on his second start over today’s course last time out and in finishing his race off strongly from the back of the field, he gave the impression there are plenty of races to won with him when allowed to race beyond the minimum trip. Although Miss Mirabeau was a similar eye-catcher having run a carbon-copy race in fourth, a good draw and the booking of Silvestre De Silva tips the scales of value very much in his favour.

Half the battle with finding winners over the chase track at the Berkshire venue is identifying sound jumpers and in the case of HOLLYWOODIEN (best price 9-1), Tom Symonds’ inmate is one of the most solid in that department in the entire field. A slick round of fencing allowed the son of Martaline to score with plenty in hand at Wetherby two starts ago and although he failed in his bid to follow up in a much better race at Sandown on his latest outing, he still ran close to a career-high in finishing a close-up third to the smart Garde La Victoire over what turned out to be an inadequate trip. Back under his optimum conditions here this afternoon, this bold-jumping grey certainly doesn’t look out of place in today’s field and he can provide his in-form handler with some more Saturday cheer.