Andy Holding's Saturday Horse Racing Tips

HERE FOR THE CRAIC (best price 12-1) maybe close to drawing his pension, but on the evidence of his latest effort at the Curragh, the 10-year-old still has plenty of fire left in his belly and he can go well at a track that has served him well in the past. Indeed, the last time the son of Millanery shipped up at the Co Kildare venue, he ran out a brave winner of a similar contest and as he hit the line very strong at HQ last weekend, he looks poised to put up another bold display.

NO SUCH NUMBER (NAP) (best price 5-4) has been nothing short of a revelation since fitted with the tongue tie and following a couple of notable successes over today’s C&D since that contraption was fitted, the hat trick looks very much a distinct possibility. Victory number one came courtesy of a smooth performance at the beginning of last month and then in even more impressive fashion, he duly repeated the dose under a penalty 17 days later. The feature of his latest effort was not only a very smart overall speed figure, but his final circuit time eclipsed the other two chase races on the card to suggest he’s currently miles clear of the official handicapper, so even though the assessor has tried to gain some sort of retribution, his attempts may ultimately be in vein.

MOUNTAIN ANGEL (best price 6-1) really impressed by the way he pointed his toe and quickened on his way to victory at Beverley last time out and he can make an immediate impact on his first start in handicap company off what looks a fair mark. Following several promising efforts in above-average maidens, Roger Varian’s charge was sent up north in order to find a fairly straightforward opportunity and in not missing the open goal, the project worked on two fronts – to gain all-important confidence and keep his handicap mark down as low as possible. Ready to take on the big boys now, the son of Dark Angel is equipped with all the necessary tools for a race which such have some bearing on the Britannia Handicap at the Royal meeting in three weeks time.

As with most races run at this track – even more so in sprints – a huge dollop of good fortune is required to come out on top, but there’s good reason to believe that NAGGERS (best price 9-2) has the sort of in-built ability to take it to another level and as such, he’s worth risking at his relatively short price. A massive eye-catcher on his seasonal bow at Doncaster when he flashed home on the bridle from a seemingly impossible position, Paul Midgley’s inmate turned what looked on paper a competitive 6f handicap at Thirsk in to anything but, and even though he’s races off a significantly higher perch here this afternoon, he left the impression at the Yorkshire track that his days in this sort of company could well be numbered.

GAME PUPPETEER (best price 11-4) was unlucky to bump into a well handicapped horse revitalised by a change of stable at Wexford last time out, but without anything of that nature up against him this afternoon, Paul Power’s gelding is fancied to be rewarded for many solid placed efforts. Prior to that creditable performance 10 days ago, the son of Gamut had run really well in a decent maiden on the Flat at Clonmel and this hugely consistent type – who seems to have taken well to fences – can go some way to repeating his performance when last seen at today’s track last year.