Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Predictably, Shanning is a short-priced favourite arriving here off the back of two positive performances in hot handicaps and while it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him justify his position in the market, both DIXIE LEE (best price 18-1) and LAKEMILAN (best price 16-1) make much more appeal at their respective prices.

The former clearly had something amiss owing to the fact she was pulled up abruptly at an early stage on her latest outing at Killarney and if you can cast that run aside and concentrate on the more positive side to her form then she would have better prospects than her morning odds imply. Third to the progressive Monarch in a useful handicap at Bellewstown the time before, Dermot Mcloughlin’s mare had previous scored in ready fashion over today’s C&D, when lowering the colours of several useful types in a fast time, and with that victory being her third to be registered at this stiff, galloping track, there’s no reason why this likeable seven-year-old won’t go well for her in-form handler (Canardier won at Cheltenham last week).

The latter has been in terrific heart during the summer jumping period, so fitness won’t be an issue and she certainly looked in good terms with herself at Cork over fences on her latest start. Well-supported from 10-1 in the morning to 5-2 favouritism, the daughter of Milan looked like justifying the gamble until being picked off late on by the more patiently-ridden Penny Jane. If it wasn’t for hitting the front and belting the last two fences, she probably would have won and she was also a shade unlucky on her previous outing over hurdles. Held up going well in the race eventually won by Ballyoisin at the Listowel Festival, the six-year-old got shuffled back through the pack on the home turn when trying to come with a run and although she picked up well in the closing stages to finish a never-nearer fifth, the dye was cast. Likely to be well-served by a strongly-run race over a more galloping track on better ground, Terence O’Brien’s mare is a must for any shortlist.

Runner-up in this race last year, Lady Buttons is likely to prove popular, but with all her best form coming on a soft surface, she’s passed over on this occasion in favour of fast-ground specialist OSCAR ROSE (NAP) (best price 4-1). Although Fergal O’Brien’s mare handles plenty of give in the ground, her best form has come when the word ‘good’ has been in the going description (341224231) and that was very much the case at Worcester on her seasonal reappearance. Setting off in front, the daughter of Oscar simply galloped her rivals into submission and with today’s small field likely to see her gain an uncontested lead (only recognised front-runner in the line-up), Paddy Brennan can hopefully ride a race whereby he can get a breather into his mount at various points on the track before kicking on for glory down the home straight.

A tightly-knit contest with quite a few permutations, but it would be a surprise if SIMPLY THE BETTS (best price 5-1) didn’t make his presence felt under his optimum conditions. Always held in high regard by his canny handler, Harry Whittington’s strapping gelding enjoyed a decent first season over hurdles and although ultimately not quite good enough to figure in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on heavy ground, he’s better judged on his two previous performances under more suitable conditions. Fourth in a hot little race at Kempton on Boxing Day, the son of Arcadio made the useful Beyond The Clouds pull out all the stops in a Class 2 event at Musselburgh (Claimantakinforgan back in third) and off that run alone, he doesn’t appear too badly treated off a mark of just 130 on his handicap bow. Likely to be much better for his seasonal return when he made slightly heavy weather of justifying short odds, a decent clip on good ground over a galloping right-handed track should prove ideal, and he rates a confident each-way choice at his morning odds.

PEREGRINE RUN (best price 8-1) may not have the sexy profile of the Monalee’s and the Shattered Love’s of this world, but the one thing he does have which might enable him to bridge the class divide is proven course form and a fitness edge. Peter Fahey’s gelding has always been a pretty smart performer, but since he’s been fitted with blinkers he seems to have improved slightly and become a bit more consistent. Indeed, his latest victory over the smart mare Dinaria Des Obeaux at Wexford recently rubber-stamped his current wellbeing and having gone well on his two previous visits to today’s track (both over hurdles), the son of King’s Theatre should be capable of easily outrunning his morning odds on his favoured good ground.

Whether the guy who did the in-running comments for the Racing Post at Cheltenham last Friday just took his eye off the ball, or whether he was just fast-forwarding his way through the replay, he somehow missed the point in the race where PRESENTING JULIO (best price 3-1) was virtually brought to standstill by the unseat of Robinroyale at the thirteenth and that’s one of the reasons why Gordon Elliot’s inmate rates a decent bet to make amends. Having got knocked back through the field at that juncture, the son of Presenting was then rushed up towards the leaders at the top of the hill a mile from home and although he hit the front seemingly going well in between the last two fences, that disproportionate burst of energy ended up being the final nail in his coffin. Back against his Irish counterparts where he gets to race 6lb lower than that heroic effort eight days ago, the fast-ground loving 10-year-old has a golden opportunity to prove how unlucky he was at the Prestbury Park track.