Top racing pundit Andy Holding has five bets from the domestic action this afternoon.
2.25 Newbury
O’MAONLAI (best price 15-2) clearly saves his best form for today’s venue and with the ground continuing to dry out in his favour, Tom George’s charge makes plenty of appeal despite the competitive nature of the line-up. An easy winner of a similar contest at the Hennessy meeting back in November, the son of Oscar was in the process of running a huge race back at his happy hunting ground on his most recent outing but a bad mistake at the cross fence put paid to his chances and he eventually had to settle for a well-beaten fourth. A strong traveller who thrives on a sound gallop, there are plenty of solid front-runners in the field to ensure he has the race run to suit and providing he can avoid mishaps this time around, he should go some way to keep his track stats in the affirmative.
3.35 Newbury
BUCKLE STREET (best price 8-1) showed a likeable attitude when getting off the mark over hurdles at Southwell last time out and with the time figure of the performance suggesting it was a fair effort for a juvenile, the son of Cacique can carry forward that level of form into this new discipline. Placed on his previous three starts, Martin Keighley’s inmate was certainly not wining out of turn at the Nottinghamshire venue and with the runner-up that day, Shantou Rock, going on to boost the form with an easy victory subsequently, hopes are high that this tenacious four-year-old can follow suit.
4.10 Newbury
Most Celebrated is likely to be a popular choice given his sexy profile and how well he travelled through his latest contest here 22 days ago, but despite his obvious claims, he may not have things all his own way with RED INDIAN (best price 5-2) in the line-up. Impressive visually and on the clock on hurdling debut at Ffos Las, Ben Pauling’s charge did his utmost when trying to follow up at Kelso last time out, but the combination of very testing ground and a useful opponent in the shape of Seemorelights (run well twice since) just found him out in the latter stages. Back on a decent surface from a yard in terrific form, the likable son of Sulamani can get back on track.
4.20 Lingfield
VERNE CASTLE (NAP) (best price 15-8) posted a career-high performance when third in a listed race here last time out and he rates a strong bet back in handicap company returning to the scene of that solid effort. Winner of his previous two starts at the Surrey track, Andrew Balding’s inmate appeared beforehand that he might be biting off more than he can chew against some of the best all-weather sprinters around, but in running the likes of Royal Birth and Lancelot Du Lac very close, he proved his level of progression still holds no boundaries. As an added extra to that form line, the well-beaten Sign Of the Kodiac scored at Dundalk last night and being housed in the box seat in stall one, he should get the perfect run through around the inner before striking down the home straight.
4.45 Newbury
Sue Smith wouldn’t have too many runners at today’s venue nowadays, so the fact that the Yorkshire handler sends MIDNIGHT SHADOW (best price 14-1) on the 400-mile round trip to the Berkshire track is a tip in itself. Impressing with his manner of victory on debut at Newcastle back in December, the Midnight Legend gelding lost nothing in defeat when failing in his bid to follow up at Doncaster last time out, but being as though he was noticeably keen to get on with matters on Town Moor, today’s bigger field and likely stronger pace should help him settle better.
