Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

On the evidence of what’s gone on so far here this week, there doesn’t appear to be a massive bias down the straight track (although one could argue there’s a slightly preference to the far side), so with the outcome likely to be determined by where the pace comes from, EVERGATE (best price 18-1), drawn where most of the front-runners are housed (Merlin, Lancelot Du Lac and Under The Covers all drawn low), should get the nice tow into the contest that he desires. Largely consistent during this campaign, Robert Cowell’s inmate ran right up to his best form in a competitive race at York last time out, his run only petering out in the closing stages after he made a big, mid-race move to rush up to the leaders at the furlong pole. Running well when just not quite seeing out the 6f over today’s course the run before, five-and-half-furlongs should prove ideal for this strong travelling type and he looks to have a better chance than his odds suggest – even more so if the rain keeps away.

QUEEN KHALEESI (best price 7-1) ran tremendously well in a strong-run mares’ only contest here on the first day of the fixture and with the winner and fifth both advertising the form of the race here yesterday (Gold Smoke and Silver Planteur) it makes sense to stick with Pat Neville’s inmate on her return visit. Moving as well as anything turning for home, she just got outrun in the closing stages by two horses who ran the last circuit in a similar time to the one posted by the 140-rated The Game Changer an hour earlier and with the addition of the cheekpieces on for the first time, she might just find the necessary improvement to enable her to finally get her head in front at the ninth time of asking. 

Nobleman’s Nest was a shot in the arm for Simon Crisford’s two-year-olds when scoring tidily here earlier in the week and that success boosts the confidence around RED MIST (best price 4-1) following suit for the Newmarket handler. Well-supported to make a winning debut at Sandown back in July, the son of Frankel duly obliged and with the runner-up and third both going on to score subsequently, the form looks pretty watertight. Undone by the way the race panned out in Indian file fashion at Newbury last time out, he arguably came out of the contest with the most credit when narrowly failing to peg back the more-experienced Hey Gaman, and in the hands of a jockey riding on the crest of a wave at a track he has a tremendous record, the combination is fancied to turn the tables around with their conqueror at the Berkshire venue.

KENSTONE (best price 13-2) has been a tremendous servant for connections this season and having yet to finish out of the money on all 11 starts, those stats looks set to continue for this in-form four-year-old back to the scene of his latest C&D triumph. Always travelling well here 21 days ago, the son of Kendargent converted his good track position to the value of a three-and-a-half-length victory and having the vital ingredients of early speed and stamina to see out the trip, augurs well for him taking advantage of his decent stall position again today in box four. 

The mucky ground in evidence here all week proved no barrier to success for HIGHLAND FLING (best price 9-2) here two days ago and he rates a strong fancy to supplement those gains on his return to the winter game. Having run well in a similar contest on the Flat at the Galway Festival when runner-up to Dara Tango, Gavin Cromwell’s charge certainly wasn’t winning out of turn and having also showed up prominently in two massively competitive handicaps over hurdles previously, everything looks set fair for another bold show from this consistent and likeable five-year-old.

KRYPTOS (best price 5-1) is clearly improving at a rapid rate of knots and on the evidence of his latest success at Thirsk, it makes sense to keep John Berry’s inmate on side. Impressive when bolting up on handicap debut at Chester earlier in the campaign, the son of Cacique was a bit unlucky not to follow up next time out at Salisbury, but it was good to see him back on track last time out at the Yorkshire venue. The way he won that day suggests there’s still plenty more to come from this lightly-raced three-year-old and having struck up a nice little partnership with Nicola Currie, the duo look set to keep their unbeaten record intact.