Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips & Preview

There’s always a chance that HI HO SILVER (best price 20-1) will be having a third run for a handicap mark, but on the flip side of the equation, there’s simply no way Chris Wall’s inmate can be a 20-1 shot based on both his performances to date. Never competitive after totally blowing the start on debut, the son of Camacho shaped with a good deal more promise on his latest outing at Kempton and that effort when a staying on fifth in a hot contest 28 days ago should entitle him to more respect than he’s been afforded in this similar event. Let’s face it, the favourite here, Colourful Career is only rated 73 and one could argue that the three-year-old grey gelding probably ran to a figure close to that last time at the Surrey venue so it’s just a case of whether he’s allowed to run on his merits here this afternoon. 

Based on the small sample sizes we have to hand, ISLAND BRAVE (best price 5-1) seems a much better horse on the synthetic surfaces and given that appeared to really relish the solid test over 1m 2f here last time, a step up in trip may bring about even further improvement. Poorly positioned and seemingly going nowhere, Heather Main’s charge suddenly picked up the bridle and took off in the home straight and he eventually scored with quite a bit in hand. Not only was he visually impressive, his final lap time and closing sectionals were much better than his current rating implies and this long-striding son of Zebedee can provide his canny handler another winner at today’s track (Al Tout won nice maiden here two weeks ago).

MIDNIGHT GYPSY (NAP) (best price 5-1) arrives here in the form of her life and there appears no real reason to oppose Stuart Kittow’s inmate with seemingly plenty still in her favour. Clocking a big speed figure for the grade when scoring in tidy fashion at Taunton two starts ago, the daughter of Midnight Legend duly followed up that success with another smooth display at the West Country track last time and even though the handicapper has done his best to try and intervene, she’s been knocking out the sort of numbers which suggest the assessor has been behind the eight ball for some time. Although away from her happy hunting ground this afternoon, encouragement is drawn from the fact she’s scored over today’s C&D in the past and this strong-travelling mare looks booked for another big performance. 

A decent contest on paper and open where there appears to be plenty of value to be had in the shape of MASTER THE WORLD (best price 7-1) and GREAT COURT (best price 14-1). The former needs no introduction as far as his ability is concerned as he’s proven on many occasions that he’s a very smart horse when his mind is focused on the job at hand. Winner of the big 1m handicap at Glorious Goodwood, David Elsworth’s charge proved the joker in the pack by scoring tidily on a rare visit to the all-weather at Lingfield last time out and with time figures he posted suggesting that first and foremost he’s in great heart, and secondly, that he’s well worth a go over tonight’s extra distance given how he finished off his race at the Surrey track. 

The latter would appear to have a mountain to climb on the official figures, but Roger Varian is no dummy and he clearly believes his filly is up to this sort of class. Seemingly a much better filly on the all-weather based on her last two runs on the synthetics, her latest victory at Wolverhampton was highlighted by the very fast speed figure she clocked and with the potential of even more to come, this lightly-raced daughter of Mastercraftsman should easily be capable of outrunning her rating and odds respectively.