Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

WAVES (best price 5-1) was really impressive over today’s C&D the last time she encountered soft underfoot conditions and with the weather forecast set to alter the going quite significantly at the Somerset venue, the ground should be ideal for Eve Johnson-Houghton’s filly to perform to her very best. Held up towards the rear that day back in May, the daughter of Born To Sea produced a power-packed finish in the final half mile, so much so, that she eventually pulled four and a half lengths clear of her field at the line. Subsequently raised 9lb in ratings, she’s struggled to have the same impact in her last two races on quicker surfaces, but now returning to the scene of her best performance with ground to suit, there’s every chance she will be seen in a much better light.

DUCKY MALLON (best price 12-1) has run a good deal better than his form figures imply so far this season and he’s worth a small each-way interest in a race where he should be competitive based on the evidence of some of his best performances. Two starts ago, for instance, he finished a creditable fourth in a hot 6f handicap at the Curragh which produced a smart speed figure and there was nothing wrong with his effort over an inadequate trip at Navan last time out when he kept on well to finish a close-up fifth. Earlier in the season, he’d also looked like taking a hand in the finish of a much better race than the one he contests tonight’s over the same C&D until just getting a little tired on the heavy ground late on, and considering he now returns to the scene of that display off a 6lb lower mark, he must have some sort of chance of getting in the mix under better conditions this evening.

NO APPROVAL (NAP) (best price 13-2) has yet to win a race in 12 starts, but his latest performance at Tipperary suggests he won’t have too long wait and tonight’s contest looks to be a decent opportunity for him to shed his maiden tag. Held up out the back at the Limerick Junction venue, the Approve gelding wasn’t in the greatest position as the field turned for home, but he finished off his race to such a degree, it was easy to draw to the conclusion he may have gone close to winning had he been ridden a little nearer to the speed. Nicely berthed here tonight in stall four, hopefully he will get a more prominent early pose this time around as he clearly has enough ability to make some sort of impact against a field of this nature.

Now David Menuisier’s stable appears to be virus-free, his runners can be backed with a good deal more confidence and SLUNOVRAT (best price 4-1) makes quite a bit of appeal despite being off the track for 290 days. Twice a winner last season, the first of those was notably off the back a 190-day lay-off, so he clearly goes well fresh, and he’s also quite useful when the ground is testing and that’s likely to be the case here tonight with all the rain forecast for the area during the day. The latter of those victories came at York when he stayed on gamely to repel all challengers to score over 2m at the first time of asking, so tonight’s test over two furlongs less should prove ideal for the son of Astronomer Royal on his return to action.