Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

The ratings say that this should be fairly straightforward for Burbank on chasing debut, but in reality it’s never that easy and there are several in today’s line-up, including SHANROE IN MILAN (best price 8-1), that can make this an uncomfortable watch for odds-on backers. Although a full 24lb inferior to Nicky Henderson’s charge, the son of Milan has shown on many occasions that he possesses more ability than his rating suggests and that looked to be the case on his chasing debut over today’s C&D until falling two out. Seemingly going as well as the 139-rated Rocklander when unfortunately unshipping his pilot, Charlie Longsdon’s inmate at least proved that he can mix it against better quality over fences and with the crumb of comfort taken from the fact he had jumped beautifully until departing the scene, hopefully a clear round today will see him bang on the premises.

There was a lot to like about the way LOST HISTORY (best price 18-1) performed on his debut over hurdles and even though he’s taking on a decent standard of opponent here this afternoon, he showed more than enough to not be disgraced with that initial run under his belt. Held up way off the pace at the Surrey track, John Spearing’s gelding made a good deal of late headway without being subjected to a particularly hard time and with the overall speed figure of the race suggesting it was a decent one of its kind, he clearly ran to a fair standard 22 days ago. Moreover, the sixth horse home that day, Fairmount, has gone on to advertise the value of the form next time out and having come from a background of decent performances on soft ground in Ireland, today’s testing conditions will bother him less than most.

GOWITHTHEFLOW (NAP) (best price 3-1) did everything right but win on his rules debut at Chepstow last time out and he’s strongly fancied to put the record straight this afternoon hailing from a stable that clearly has a high standard of novices in their midst. Setting out to make all the running, Ben Pauling’s inmate had most of his rivals at full stretch turning for home and having shaken them off one by one, it was galling to see him picked off in the shadows of the post. Indeed, had he not drifted left on the run-in he probably would have prevailed and at least the horse that beat him, Chooseyourweapon, has gone on to add a slight crumb of comfort for connections with a decisive win since. Seen as a chaser in years to come, one would imagine the son of Westerner would be ridden in a pretty positive manner again to utilise his stamina and with today’s galloping track also likely to suit, the four-year-old can run his rivals ragged.