Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

With the big three in the market having all been balloted out of the Lincoln, the consolation race in the shape of the Spring Mile arguably looks a much stronger contest on paper and taking the view that it often takes a potential Group horse to land one of these prizes nowadays, SACRED ACT (best price 5-1) fits the bill nicely. John Gosden’s inmate has clearly had his problems having only seen the racetrack five times, but when the wheels have been kept on the wagon, it’s plain for all to see that he harbours a serious amount of ability. Runner-up to Group 1-placed Lightening Spear in 2015, we had to wait the thick end of 18 months to see him again but it was well worth the wait as he captured a Sandown handicap in the style of a pretty smart horse. Despite meeting all sorts of trouble in running, the son of Oasis Dream managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and even off his revised mark of 96, he still could be someway clear of the handicapper.

As Godolphin proved here last year with Secret Brief’s win in the Lincoln, horses that have had the benefit of racing out in the desert during the winter clearly hold a significant fitness edge and in the shape of CYMRIC (NAP) (best price 8-1), Charlie Appleby’s charge can take advantage of his most recent exploits. A useful two-year-old, the son of Kitten’s Joy rather lost his way at three, but on the evidence of his last two starts, he’s right back in the groove. Winner of a competitive handicap on his first outing for new connections back in February, the four-year-old gelding failed in his bid to follow up two weeks later, but considering he was up against a horse in the shape of Championship who broke the mile track record that day, his reasons for defeat are clearly valid. A bit of ease in the ground won’t bother him and with a decent pace to shoot at, it’s hard to envisage him not running well.

Looking back at the results for this race over the decades, horses that stay well with a touch of class often come to the fore and TOP NOTCH TONTO (best price 14-1) has plenty of characteristics that fits the profile of many previous winners. Although Brian Ellison’s inmate hasn’t won for a while and isn’t likely to hit the heights of yesteryear, he has been dining at the very top table for the best part of four seasons and he should find today’s assignment a welcome break from his regular visits into Group company. Indeed, the last time he raced outside pattern class on turf over a mile, the Thousand Words gelding was an unlucky when a fast-finishing second to Creggs Pipes in the big premier handicap at the Galway Festival last season and following a pipe-opener in the trial for this race at Wolverhampton three weeks ago, the seven-year-old should be at fever pitch to run a big race in the hands of crack apprentice Ben Robinson, who is full value for his 7lb claim.

If AMBERJAM (best price 8-1) hadn’t run so badly last time out (race probably came too soon after his gruelling effort previously), he’d be nearly favourite to win this race, so it makes sense to give him the benefit of the doubt and give him a chance to bounce back to form at a course where he’s unbeaten in two previous starts. The first of those victories came back in December when he ground out a gutsy success off the back of a long layoff and showing a similar tenacious spirit on his next visit to the Midland venue he overcame fatigue in the closing stages to keep his perfect tracks stats intact. Although he thrives on heavy ground, conditions should still be fairly testing here today and Oliver Sherwood’s charge should give a bold account off bottom weight with his useful 7lb conditional on board.

ARAKHAN (best price 13-2) showed a lovely attitude when getting off the mark at the third time of asking at Carlisle last time out and he can put his valuable experience to good use despite being up against several promising and highly-regarded types. Fifth and third respectively in a couple of warm bumpers on his first two starts, Richard Fahey’s charge clearly learnt enough to get the job done at the Cumbrian track 40 days ago, and with runner-up (a previous winner) and himself pulling well clear of their field in a fast time, the form is solid enough to have confidence in him running a big race here today.

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