Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

As the betting suggests, Espoir De Loire should justify his position in the market if repeating his excellent runner-up spot here last time out, but the value option of the race lies with ENRICHISSANT (best price 5-1) in the without the favourite market. Although he was beaten a fair way at Chepstow last time out, David Bridgewater’s gelding shaped quite well until he hit the wall at the second last, but with the time figure very good and with several highly-regarded sorts well beaten in behind, it was still a fair effort from the four-year-old. Not only did the race comes out well on the numbers, the likes of Getaway Trump (won), and Before Midnight (runner-up to the smart Tidal Flow), have gone on to boost the form, and with today’s race nothing having the strength in depth as the one at the Welsh venue, the son of Speedmaster should be capable of making his presence felt in some small way.

SENIOR CITIZEN (best price 11-2) is gradually getting the hang of this racing game and following his breakthrough success at Chepstow last time out, Alan King’s long-term chasing prospect can continue to climb up the ladder. Showing promise in two bumpers last season, the son of Tobboug made the perfect start to life in his new discipline with a game victory at the Welsh venue 25 days ago and on the evidence of that display he now appears ready for something tougher. Although he benefitted from the fall of the well-fancied Before Midnight two out and only just clung on to his advantage in a wild finish from Mr Macho, the fact that the time figure was good and there were some notable scalps well and truly stuffed in behind (Getaway Trump won since), suggested he’d run to a pretty high level on hurdling debut. Still very much a work in progress with a hint of greenness in his system, the hope that this big, scopey five-year-old will realise his potential with the more practice he undertakes is one of the main reasons for suggesting he’s a fair bet at his top morning price.

BURGAS (best price 5-1) isn’t a prolific winner by and stretch of the imagination, but there’s no doubting his natural ability and having bypassed the prospect of running in the Troytown Handicap at Navan tomorrow to come here for easier pickings instead, Noel Meade’s charge can put his vital chasing experience to good use. A veteran in terms of number of outings in races of this nature (10), the son of Protector was heavily involved in a very smart race of its kind at Naas last time out and if he hadn’t made a complete Horlicks of the last having travelled like the winner throughout, there’s little doubt his maiden tag status over fences would have been written off. Moreover, it’s worth pointing out that the main fact the likes of strongly-fancied pair Any Second Now and Bacardys never got involved that day was down to the winner knocking out a faster last circuit than the Grade 3 winner Saint Calvados to the tune of two seconds, and a repeat of the same level of form by the seven-year-old gelding here today should see him bang on the premises once again.

No shortage of early pace on here with the likes of Ozzie The Oscar, Cyrname and Speredek in the line-up, and that should suit SAN BENEDETO (best price 12-1) and CHAMPAGNE AT TARA (best price 22-1) whose best form has arisen when they’ve been able to come through strongly in the latter stages after being ridden patiently off a sound gallop.

The former is a little more exposed than some, but he usually runs his race - as he did so last time out in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter – and even though he’s a bit to find with Ozzie The Oscar strictly on the book, the way he likes to be ridden will suit him better under today’s circumstances than his old rival. One of the only course winners in the field, Paul Nicholls’ admiral warrior should once again give another solid account with the excellent Bryony Frost always good value in the plate and with some firms going five and even six places, he makes of each-way appeal.

The latter can be a bit of tricky customer at times, but he can also be pretty good when the cards fall in his favour as he proved with victories at Aintree and Uttoxeter in the summer. In truth, Jonjo O’Neill’s grey should have completed the hat trick here last time out, but a miscommunication with his pilot Barry Geraghty at the last fence put a fork in his chances, and that would have really rankled with connections. A smooth traveller who gets on well with Richie McClernon, the nine-year-old can creep his way into the thick end of the action and give himself every chance of pulling off the upset.

CAPTAIN REDBEARD (NAP) (best price 10-3) is probably now handicapped up to the hilt, but the massive thing he has in his favour that might offset that negative is his love for today’s course and that is enough to gain him the vote.

For each of his four seasons in training under rules, Stuart Coltherd’s gelding has always needed the run and that turned out to be the case once again at Carlisle last time out (weakened on the run-in). Off the back of a 204-day break, the son of Bach ran well as could be expected over a trip half a mile short of his best when third to the in-form Aspen Colorado in a well-run contest over hurdles at the Cumbrian track and now returning to the scene that witnessed him batter a good field by 10 lengths here this time last year (also runner-up in the Peter Marsh), the nine-year-old should be close to fever-pitch in his bid to repeat the dose.