Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

A dual bumper winner with Barry Geraghty donning the white cap, clearly points towards Tower Bridge being the number one player for owner JP McManus in this maiden hurdle, but that doesn’t necessarily mean TEN TEN (best price 25-1) should be totally disregarded as he shaped like a promising type in his own right on debut at Gowran last time. In a race run at a sound clip at the Co Kerry venue, Philip Dempsey’s gelding impressed by the way he was able to lay up with the speed without being flustered and although he didn’t have the gears to go with the eventual winner, Sharjah (looked pretty impressive), from two out, he kept on willingly enough to finish a respectable third. Back in the field that day was Dics Don and although Gordon Elliot’s inmate may have needed the run and has gone on to back up that view next time out, the fact of the matter is the son of Flemensfirth did finish 14 lengths ahead of his old rival, so it makes little sense why he should be four times the price on the early morning tissues. Although only a four-year-old, he is quite a substantial unit and with today’s galloping track sure to suit, it would be disappointing if he didn’t build on his initial display and play a significant role here this afternoon.

CHARLIE STOUT (best price 14-1) was in great form this time last year and that trend looks to be going in a similar direction based on his last two performances coming into today’s contest. Runner-up to the bang in-form and well-handicapped Highland Fling in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Listowel Festival, Shane Nolan’s charge backed that up with another solid effort when third in a decent maiden on the Flat at Navan 10 days ago. Once again the son of Spadoun confirmed his liking for a testing surface that day and having already proven himself over today’s course with a victory on his only visit to the Co Down track last season, there’s every reason to expected another bold show from this game six-year-old.

The overnight rain isn’t necessarily what the doctor ordered for connections of La Bague Au Roi, so even though she’s by far and away the best mare in the field, she could be vulnerable to something handles the ground better and has already had a run – step forward GIVEAWAY GLANCE (best price 8-1). A winner on the Flat back in May, Alan King’s mare made a perfectly satisfactory start to her hurdling campaign when a fine second to Miss Night Owl at Stratford recently and with that effort sure to have put a nice edge on her for today’s encounter, there’s a decent chance she will not only reverse the form with her conqueror 14 days ago, but prove the one most likely to give favourite backers a scare. 

AWESOMETANK (NAP) (best price 9-2) lived up to the first part of her name with a scintillating performance both visually and on the clock at York last time out and she’s confidently expected to make the transition into pattern company a seamless one. On a day when there was plenty of big-field, competitive handicaps on the Knavesmire – including a valuable 6f sprint – for a two-year-old to post the fastest furlong-per-furlong time suggests we are dealing with an above-average juvenile and on the evidence of what we saw 21 days ago (runner-up won listed race since), she has an attitude to back up her natural ability. After that run, connections cited that would be it for the year for the daughter of Intense Focus, so the fact the she’s turned out again in order to gain some valuable black type before the curtain closes on the season all points towards her wellbeing being in a first-class place.

Any horse that has refused to race always has to be approached with a certain degree of caution, but at the same time, SONG LIGHT (best price 12-1) was on his best behaviour on the Flat when last seen, so hopefully those happy memories are carried forward to his return to the National Hunt game this afternoon. Although Seamus Mullins’ inmate has his quirks, that point blank cussedness at Haydock last season came as a total bolt from the blue, because other than that one off, he’s been pretty reliable in plenty of big, Saturday handicaps. Indeed, one of his best efforts came when he finished a creditable fifth in the Ladbroke Handicap over today’s C&D two years ago and his propensity to be well suited by those big-field strongly-run events was confirmed with his excellent fourth in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last season. Although he has form on a variety of ground conditions, any overnight won’t inconvenience him as much as many others and with the blinkers on for the first-time, presumably to make him concentrate down at the start, a huge run can be expected if he plays ball and jumps off with the rest.

Racegoers at the Co Down circuit are really spoilt for choice here as this Grade 2 contest has brought together a truly stellar line-up. Gigingstown clearly mean business setting punters a poser by sending five to post, and although the likes of Disko, Ball D’Arc and Balko Des Flos all have solid claims in their own right, TOUT EST PERMIS (best price 33-1) could easily turn out to be the real joker in the pack in the famous maroon and white colours. Although not an established name by any means – particularly with UK punters – he’s shown more than enough in two chase starts on native soil to suggest he can more than hold his own in this sort of company. A dominant performance over the very smart pair Brelade and Gurteen first served notice that Mouse Morris’ inmate was useful recruit to the chasing ranks and he followed that up with an even better effort when chasing home the potentially top-class Death Duty in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last time out. The feature of that race at the Co Kildare venue was the strong pace throughout and even though the son of Linda’s Lad failed to land a meaningful blow to the impressive winner, he still clocked a fair speed figure in defeat. Indeed, even allowing for the fact he got beat 11 lengths, he still ran the last circuit 4.3 faster than the 157-rated Road To Respect, who took the other big Graded race on the same card, and as a four-year-old receiving all the allowances here this afternoon, odds of 40-1 look too tempting to resist despite his lack of experience in the big league. 

A fascinating affair for so many different reasons, none more so than to see how the old warriors, Coneygree and Cue Card shape up on their seasonal reappearances. The former has clearly had his issues since winning the Gold Cup back in 2015, but his two efforts last season suggest he’s lost none of his old verve, it’s just a case of whether he’s as good as he was. The same can be said of Cue Card, who probably deserves more credit than he’s been afforded over the years, and, he, too, has motivate himself for another campaign with his twelfth birthday looming over his shoulder. Given the likely testing conditions if the forecast is correct and the slight question marks surrounding the big two in the betting as discussed, it would come as no real shock, therefore, if there was to be a turn-up in this prestigious early-season prize. If this does become a slog and stamina ends up being the key component, then VIEUX LION ROUGE (best price 22-1) is better equipped than most to cope with the examination paper and he looks to be overpriced somewhat at 22-1. A victory over Blaklion in the Grand National Trial at Aintree last February suggests he’s at least a value bet to confirm form with his old rival based on that performance and when you also add into the mix, he’s unbeaten first-time out for the last four seasons, he clearly has a good deal more going for him than at first glance.