Andy Holding's Boxing Day Horse Racing Tips

Or De Vassy was a convincing winner here two starts ago but that was on good ground and whether he has the sufficient qualities to beat QUICK PICK (best price 15-8) is open to question any way. Indeed, the race that Jenny Candlish’s inmate finished a never-nearer third at Leicester last time was run at the kind of tempo to suggest in was an above-average affair for the track and coming from a background of many previous notable performances on soft ground, today’s conditions should prove ideal for this gritty six-year-old.

SIMPLY THE BETS (best price 11-2) was heavily involved in what turned out to be a strongly-run novice event at Newbury last time out and a repeat of that level of form should see Harry Whittington’s inmate bang on the premises once again. Having justified strong support to land a useful bumper in impressive fashion on his debut back in September, the Arcadio gelding was also a warm order in the market to make a successful start to his hurdling career on his latest outing, and although he failed in his attempt to justify the confidence, his performance suggested it was money lent.

The only one to offer any real resistance to the winner, the four-year-old faded late on unable to keep the relentless gallop of the winner, but he left the scene having to be carried out on his shield and that loss would have taught him far more than his previous victory.

QUOTHQUAN (NAP) (best price 10-3) proved no match for the very smart Sussex Ranger at Sandown last time out, but as the winner was knocking out fractions way better than the Grade 2 race on the same card won by On The Blind Side, he clearly faced an impossible task. In finishing a creditable runner-up to Gary Moore’s charge, he, did, however, manage to turn around previous form with Jukebox Jive and having scored on the Flat on heavy ground, today’s conditions at a track he’s gone well in the past should prove ideal for the son of Myboycharlie.

ELEGANT ESCAPE (best price 6-1) sprung a little bit of a surprise when scoring in gutsy fashion at Newbury last time out, but there appeared nothing fluky about the performance and he’s fancied to provide Colin Tizzard with yet another winner in this Grade 1 affair. Beaten fair and square by both two of today’s rivals, Mia’s Storm and Ballyoptic previously, the Dubai Destination gelding seemed to up his game significantly at the Berkshire track 24 days ago and with his final circuit time that day revealing that he’d covered the last circuit quicker than the Ladbroke Chase winner Total Recall, and Gold Present, who took the 2m 6f handicap chase, the five-year-old is clearly improving at a rapid rate of knots.

In the very same race, it was too early to suggest how FOUNTAINS WINDFALL (best price 7-1) would have figured had he not fallen three out, but at the same time, he was still going well enough to suggest he might have had some sort of say in the final outcome. Having been heavily backed beforehand, it was disappointing for many to see him depart the scene just as the contest was coming to the boil, but he has at least got a completed round of jumping in a fast time in his locker courtesy of his previous success at Southwell and he also hails from a stable going great guns at present.

APPLESANDPIERRES (best price 11-2) was fully entitled to need the run after being off the track for 224 days at Market Rasen last time out and he’s taken to provide Dan Skelton another winner at a track where he has a 32% strike rate. Prior to that useful effort 33 days ago – which was a decent race on the speed figures – the Pierre gelding had lowered the colours of recent big-race winner, Guitar Pete, over today’s course and having also got a win next to his name on soft ground at Uttoxeter, the conditions here this afternoon shouldn’t inconvenience him too much either.

BECAUSESHESAIDSO (best price 2-1) ran perfectly respectably last time out at Lingfield over 2m 4f, but he left the impression that a step up in trip would suit, and that viewpoint is taken to be instantly vindicated 28 days on. Trying to cut out all the running at the Surrey venue, Venetia Williams’ gelding couldn’t go with Church Hall in the latter stages when the eventual winner found a nice change of pace inside the final half a mile, but he plugged on well enough to finish a creditable second and the time figure on the race suggested he’d run up to a pretty decent standard in defeat. With many of today’s rivals either out of form or vulnerable at the trip on the ground, the lightly-raced nine-year-old can provide his handler with another winner.

ROCK WARBLER (best price 15-2) could never muster a significant challenge over today’s C&D last time out, but he kept on sufficiently well enough to suggest another positive display should be forthcoming in this similar heat. Held up off the back of what turned out to be very strong fractions 13 days ago, Oliver Greenall’s charge did well to finish as close as he did having suffered interference at a crucial stage and having also run well on his previous visit to the Dunstall Park track over a mile, another well-run affair will play into the strengths of the usually strong-finishing son of Raven’s Pass.