Andy Holding Saturday Horse Racing Tips

FOUNTAINS WINDFALL (best price 2-1) was probably the pick of these over hurdles and following an impressive chasing debut at Southwell last time, confidence is high he can make the grade over fences. Looking in need of the outing in a Grade 2 over hurdles on his opening salvo at Wetherby, Anthony Honeyball’s inmate proved a totally different proposition next time when he stayed on too strongly from a useful field at the Midland track. The other feature of that performance 11 days ago was his sound jumping under pressure inside the final half mile and with the time figure of the race also suggesting he’d run to a pretty high standard, the seven-year-old can put it up to several more established types from the front.

MASTER DANCER (best price 11-2) ran out a wildly impressive winner of what appeared a very competitive race on paper at Cheltenham last time out and there’s every chance he could supplement those gains if anywhere near the same shape (had issues since). Held up out the back off the back of strong fractions, Tim Vaughan’s grey picked his rivals off one by one in the final half mile and by the time he’d met the famous hill, he’d established an unassailable advantage. The other key note towards that success was his impressive set of sectionals inside the final circuit and when you consider he was trapping along quicker than horses such as Slate House and Brillare Momento who are both rated significantly higher, even his new mark of 126 shouldn’t be enough to prevent him from going close despite the rise in class.

If anyone needed reminding of the skills of Ben Pauling, the performance of Willoughby Court here yesterday was enough to make most punters sit up and take notice of his rise up the training ranks and in the shape of HIGH BRIDGE (best price 3-1), the Gloucestershire handler has a chance of another significant winner. Since switching his attentions to the winter game, the son of Monsun has been dining at a Michelin star standard and his performance in what is turning out to be a race of some significance at Ascot last time out gets better as time passes. Not only has the winner, Elgin, gone on to boost the form with a win in the Greatwood Hurdle, the runner-up, Limited Reserve scored at Haydock last week, along with fifth-placed Verdana Blue back at the same track. The way he kept on for pressure in the latter stages he retains all the qualities he showed from last season and now returning to a track where he’s unbeaten in two previous starts (both in good time figures) the six-year-old receives the confident vote to keep that record intact.

SUMKINDOFKING (best price 3-1) ran well enough in a much stronger race at Kempton last time out and this represents a decent opportunity for him to regain the winning thread. Following a promising start to last season’s campaign, Tom George’s charge found life tougher when pitched in against some useful opponents at many Grade 1 tracks and although he shaped a good deal better than the bear result suggested at Chepstow on his return to action in October, his effort 19 days ago was still short of expectations. Back in a more realistic grade where his qualities should shine through, there should be no excuses this time if the King’s Theatre gelding fails to deliver the goods.

MARTEN (NAP) (best price 6-4) is the most gorgeous stamp of a horse and he proved last time out that he has the engine to match his looks. The way he dismantled the odds-on favourite and previous easy winner that day, Sky Pirate, with a round of relentless galloping, suggested we are dealing with a horse who could take much higher rank, and although he’s up against several rivals today you’ve exhibited a fair level of form so far to date, Ben Pauling’s chasing type should have his foot on their heads from the front.

Ever since AMERICAN (best price 7-1) signed off last season with a win at Uttoxeter this race has been very much the plan and, with his preparations reportedly gone pretty smoothly, Harry Fry’s talented young chaser can put his name firmly on the map. The six-year-old couldn’t have had a better first season over fences, winning on all of his three outings over three miles and with his fast and accurate jumping one of the main features of his performances, that sound technique will hopefully stand him in good stead for stiffer assignments ahead. Moreover, his time figure he posted also indicated he can go a proper gallop and maintain the pace all the way to the line and given that this year’s renewal arguably doesn’t look the strongest on paper, the son of Malinas – being a second-season chaser – fits the criteria of many previous winners. 

The only slight question mark regarding the main selection would be the drying ground (times yesterday suggested it was just on the soft side of good), but one who won’t mind the prevailing conditions is PILGRIMS BAY (best price 66-1). Never in the hunt in the Badger Ales at Wincanton on unsuitable soft ground last time, Neil Mulholland’s inmate let’s not forget was a smooth winner of the Betbright Handicap Chase at Kempton last season and on that form, there’s no way this strong-travelling type should be allowed to go off 66-1 this afternoon under ideal conditions.