Andy Holding's Wednesday Horse Racing Tips

DUNCAN OF SCOTLAND (NAP) (best price 11-8) has hit the ball out of the park on the speed figures on his last two starts and is strongly fancied to complete a hat trick and back up his previous C&D victory. Away like a bullet out of a gun at the Scottish venue at the beginning of the month, Lee Smyth’s inmate set off at a tremendous gallop in the early paces and despite looking slightly vulnerable to the closers two out, he kept on strongly in the latter stages. Once again, similar tactics were used to good effect at Dundalk last time out when he pounded out the fractions to repel a whole series of challengers down the lane and with the form of the race taking a huge boost with the eighth-placed horse, Gopsies Daughter winning next time, there’s every chance the Roderic O’Connor gelding can follow suit.

WINGS OF ESTEEM (best price 7-2) probably hasn’t won the number of races her ability has suggested she might, but following a promising start to her new life with rookie handler Luke McJannet, the four-year-old filly can add another victory to the win column. Narrowly beaten on several starts for Martin Smith last season, the daughter of Sir Percy began this campaign with a perfectly respectable performance over today’s C&D, just failing in the dying strides to hang on to the advantage she obtained at the furlong pole. However, it was certainly no disgrace to go under by a narrow margin to the progressive Commodity and a repeat of that performance is likely to see her bang on the premises once again.

Nezwaah clearly sets a very high standard based on some of her performances in Pattern company last season, but this will be her first outing for 220 days, so if she’s ever going to be vulnerable, today might well be the day. Similar comments also apply to Pure Art and More Mischief, so with that in mind, a small chance is taken on Irish raider ELM GROVE (best price 16-1) causing a little bit of a mini-shock with race fitness on her side. Although she has a huge amount to find on the official figures, her time figures on home soil suggests she might be underestimated here and her latest performance at Clonmel backs up that view. Off the back of sound fractions, Willie Mccreery’s inmate found a splendid change of gear in the latter stages to surge readily clear of the in-form Beechmount Whisper and with the fourth horse home, Secret Wizard (beaten 11 lengths), going on to score handsomely at Gowran last night, the race looks a totally believable one regards pure form. From an in-form barn with nothing to lose and everything to gain (likely to be ridden in order to nick some black type), the daughter of Arcano is worth a small play with and without the favourite.

DELAYED ELOQUENCE (best price 6-1) has yet to win a race in ten tries, but she has intimated on several occasions that record won’t last forever and providing she’s suffered no mental scars from her tumble the other day, the daughter of Beneficial has a fine chance of getting the monkey off her back in this mares’ handicap. A solid fifth in a strongly run handicap at Tipperary two starts ago, she went back to the same track well fancied to improve upon that position and looking likely to justify the money in her direction that evening, she unfortunately clipped heels and came to grief entering the back straight for the final time. Given the way she was travelling at the time, it’s highly likely she would have taken a hand in the finish and hailing from a stable in cracking form at present under both codes, Joseph O’Brien’s charge receives a fairly confident vote to hit the frame at the very least.

MAGNA CARTOR (best price 10-1) has rather lost his way since rattling off victories over today’s C&D and Punchestown last autumn, but following a creditable effort on the Flat at Clonmel recently, expectations of a more positive display here tonight have increased. Travelling as well as anything rounding the home bend, Shark Hanlon’s inmate just couldn’t quite match the finishing kick of course specialist You Can’t Catch Me in the latter stages, but he did manage to pull well clear of the rest which included subsequent winner Supreme Vinnie. Back on a sharp track on good ground, the Motivator gelding can outrun his double-figure quotes. Another that appears slightly overpriced is MAGNETIC FORCE (best price 12-1). Although he’s entering the veteran stage, Robert Hennessy’s charge often comes good at this time of year (won two handicaps last summer), and he ran a good deal better than his finishing position suggest in a strongly-run event at Clonmel last time out.