Andy Holding's two tips both won yesterday - He's got two more picks today.
14.50 Southwell
Despite racing rather exuberantly in the early part of the contest last time out at Uttoxeter, KIMBERLEY POINT (best price 3-1) still managed to run out a ready winner over the strongly-fancied Queen’s Magic and with that all-important hurdling experience under her belt, she might just be capable of following up against several of her market rivals who’ve yet to face a hurdle in public.
Way too keen for her own good in a small field when they didn’t go much of a gallop on hurdling debut over today’s C&D back in October, Alan King’s mare threatened to repeat the dose at the Midland venue 18 days ago, but luckily for her she had the benefit of that previous outing which enabled her to finish off her race a good deal better. Indeed, despite expending valuable energy, the daughter of Sixties Icon found a smart turn of foot in the latter stages and providing she can be switched off and settled in the first mile or so today – which will hopefully be the case in a bigger field – she has every chance of denting quite a few big reputations.
15.30 Fakenham
A truly awful finale but it may well be within the capabilities of Irish raider SLAINTE AND THANKS (NAP) (best price 15-8) from connections that have already smelt the scent of victory with one of their recent raids. Although Garrett Ahern’s mare has only managed one win in 14 starts, her sole victory at Clonmel in the summer was achieved in consummate ease and although she’s failed to add to that success in her six subsequent outings, she has run with distinction on several occasions.
Indeed, her latest effort at Thurles wasn’t as bad as it looks on paper, as she ran on again in the closing stages after she looked like dropping out the back of the TV turning for home, and on the evidence of that display, the daughter of Arakan now looks like she’s ready for step back up in trip.
Being a former point-to-point winner that theory makes total sense and with her favoured fast ground very much in the ascendency, it would be a surprise if the six-year-old doesn’t have a significant say in the outcome against this sort of opposition.
