Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

The race won by Whatswrongwithyou was a proper burn-up on the figures here 24 days ago, and with the runner-up, Ok Corral, going on to prove the value of the form with a smooth victory at Kempton yesterday, confidence in Nicky Henderson’s inmate following up have significantly increased. Back in the field that day was NELSON’S TOUCH (best price 10-1), and while it’s a massive leap of faith to suggest he’s any chance of turning the form around, he does make some sort of appeal in the without the favourite market based on his eye-catching run. Noted travelling well throughout, he visibly got tired on the run down to the last before staying on again on the run-in and given that effort came off the back of a 75-day break, he was fully entitled to blow up. Likely to be all the better for that initial outing, Seamus Mullins’ inmate should be capable of seeing out the trip more strongly this afternoon and if that does turn out to be the case, he has every chance of hitting the frame.

WISHMOOR (best price 11-4) is one of the few runners in the field with proven C&D form and that track knowledge along with his current wellbeing is enough to tip the balance marginally in his favour. Up against novices of the stature of Jury Duty and Snow Flacon, Mouse Morris’ inmate was never likely to cut much ice, but having been given a lenient-looking handicap mark of just 118, he took full advantage with a game victory here 13 days. Jumping well throughout, the son of Winged Love repelled a series of persistent challenges in the final half mile, and staying on strongly up the hill, he went on to record a deserved success. Likely to be ridden in a similar positive vein, the eight-year-old is likely to take some stopping from the front.

QUIDS IN (best price 7-1) has run perfectly respectably without managing to get his head in front all season and with conditions to suit at a track where he’s been successful in the past, he’s fancied to make some sort of impact. Although he never landed a meaningful blow at the leaders at Chepstow last week, he can certainly hold his head up high with the way he performed, and you can also pick any of his previous three runs out suggest that he’s done very little wrong in defeat. Looking back to last season, and his victory in his career was achieved under similar, stamina-sapping conditions at today’s corresponding fixture and with the experimental headgear dispensed with, Oliver Greenall’s charge rates a decent each-way poke.

NORTHANDSOUTH (NAP) (best price 12-1) hasn’t been the most reliable of performers, but not for the first time this season, he seemed to really respond to the finesse of Bryony Frost and with the star jockey of the season once again doing the cajoling, the duo looked booked to go well despite his biggish price. Previously with Nigel Twiston-Davies, the son of Spadoun didn’t take too long in hitting the mark for his new connections and despite him trying to hang his chance away at Lingfield last time out, the eight-year-old ran out a convincing winner once persuaded to go in a forward direction. The other feature of that effort at the Surrey venue was the smart speed figure he posted, and with the well-beaten Game Is A Foot wasting no time in advertising the form at Towcester the day after, Sam Drinkwater’s inmate must surely have a better chance than his odds imply with conditions to suit.