Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

SCHOOL BOY HOURS (best price 11-8) is still awaiting his first win, but to be fair to him he’s been terribly unlucky on his last two starts, so if any horse deserves a break, Noel Meade’s gelding certainly does.

Going well when falling half way down the back on his second outing over hurdles at Cork last season, the Presenting gelding just got caught out of his ground when the pace increased at Naas on his comeback after 190-days on the side lines. The imposing five-year-old gelding did, however, impress by the way he finished off his race to claim the runner-up spot late on and with today’s step up in trip likely to bring about even further improvement, this future chaser in the making rates the one to beat hailing from his in-form stable.

A decent contest on paper with several interesting contenders going forward, but the solid one appears to be SMITHS CROSS (best price 9-4) and he rates the percentage call at the prices. Runner-up in two bumpers towards the backend of last season, Michael Scudamore’s six-year-old made a pleasing start to his life over hurdles when chasing home the well-fancied Remastered at Ffos Las on his return to action after a 210-day break and with the short-priced favourite, Good Boy Bobby, a well-beaten third, the form has a solid look to it. Indeed, the time figure also backs up that view and even though this former point winner may well be better served by further in time, hopefully the rain which is forecast will help make the race a sufficient test.

One of the best bumpers so far this season was the one won by Silver Forever at Chepstow, and having run well to finish a creditable fourth behind Paul Nicholls’ potentially very smart grey filly, DEADRINGERFORLOVE (NAP) (best price 11-4) can prove the value of the form and take high rank in this similar contest. Given the fractions the winner was knocking out at the Welsh track, it was no surprise many of her rivals were flat to the boards trying to keep up coming out of the back straight and Harry Fry’s filly was no exception. She did, however, impress by the way she stuck to the task at hand in the latter stages and with plenty of improvement likely to be forthcoming, the daughter of Black Sam Bellamy should turn out to be a potent force here this afternoon.