Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Any Second Now sets a pretty high standard based on his performances behind the likes of Footpad and Invitation Only last season, but there was something a bit suspicious that sets the alarm bells ringing about his tame effort at Naas on his opening bow to this campaign and having finished ahead of Ted Walsh’s inmate on merit that day, AGENT BORU (best price 16-1) looks overpriced returning to the scene of some of his better displays over hurdles.

Although Thomas Gibney’s gelding doesn’t have the sexy profile as some of his rivals, he does have a willing attitude and it’s worth pointing out that there didn’t appear to be any fluke about his success in the EBF Final over today’s course back in April. That victory took his course stats to an impressive 2451 and given the way he shaped on his chase debut under an insufficient test, today’s step up in trip and likely easier ground (forecast heavy rain) should see the son of Brian Boru acquit himself with a good deal of credit.

A decent novices’ chase in prospect with several who’ve already shown useful form over fences, none more so than EUXTON LANE (best price 5-2) and he gains the slight vote. A smart novice hurdler with a rating of 139, Donald McCain’s gelding earned the right to have a crack at Grade 1 company following a series of promising displays throughout last winter and although he eventually came up a bit short behind Black Op and Co, he was by no means disgraced. Returning to action off the back of a 212-day break, the son of Getaway made a pleasing start to his chasing career at Carlisle recently and with the time figure of the race in question won by Vindication suggesting it was a fair race of its kind (seventh home Pookie Pekan won since), his performance in finishing a creditable third deserves extra merit. Indeed, not only was the speed figure the best on the seven-race card, it was noticeable that the first four home all covered the final circuit of the Cumbrian track quicker than the 2m Graduation Chase winner Highway One O One and with most of his best form over hurdles coming on flat, left-handed tracks on testing ground, today’s conditions should be ideal for the promising six-year-old to excel.

Speedo Boy and, in particular, Champ, are bound to create all the pre-race headlines here, but given the likely change in conditions - heavy rain forecast), this race is going to turn out to be a bit of a slog and that might just PADLEYOUROWNCANOE (best price 11-1) a shade better.

Good enough to give subsequent winner Grand Sancy all the trouble he could handle on his seasonal return at Chepstow, Colin Tizzard’s charge went on to run with great credit in a decent little four-year-old only affair at Cheltenham last time out. Just done for toe as the field rounded the home turn, the son of Nayef kept on willingly all the way up the hill and on that evidence, he now looks like he’s crying out for a stiffer test. At his best around this time last season when the ground was soft, the demands of this track should suit and with some firms offering up to six places, the four-year-old makes plenty of each-way appeal to fill one of those spots.

COLUMN OF FIRE (NAP) (best price 7-4) is regarded as one of the nicest long-term prospects at Gordon Elliot’s stable and he’s taken to confirm his high reputation on hurdling debut. An excellent and promising second to stable mate Commander Of The Fleet (current favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) in a hot bumper at the Punchestown Festival, the son of Robin Des Champs was quickly into his stride on his opening bow this season when disposing of a nine-strong field at Navan. Always going best, the four-year-old gelding readily pulled clear of a useful sort in the shape of Two Shoe Tom and with the pair well clear of the rest, the form looks solid. Indeed, the runner-up has since gone on to finish a creditable runner-up in a quality mares’ listed bumper back at the same track last time out and with the time figure also suggesting it was a pretty smart race, it would be disappointing if he couldn’t take care of today’s field with a clean round of jumping.

The roll of honour for this valuable and prestigious prize suggests lightly-raced, progressive second-season chasers are the ones to keep on side and, with good jumping, stamina and preferably some previous course form thrown into the mix, the shortlist can be streamlined to a manageable level.

The first name out of the hat, fitting most of the criteria outlined, is ELEGANT ESCAPE (best price 6-1) and it really would be a surprise if he doesn’t go well hailing from a stable that took this prize two years ago with Native River. A cracking start to his first season over fences culminated with Colin Tizzard’s gelding finishing a creditable third in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham before following up that fine display by filling out the same position in the other illustrious Grade 1 novice event at Aintree a month later. The main selection began this campaign in excellent fashion with a typically game victory over the similarly progressive Thomas Patrick at Sandown and that run should just about put the six-year-old cherry-ripe for a tilt at this big pot. Having already gone well at the course when claiming the scalp of Black Corton last season, the son of Dubai Destination ticks more boxes than a multiple-choice exam.

Despite being beaten by Elegant Escape at Sandown, connections of Thomas Patrick wouldn’t have been too disheartened and it is easy to see him going very close at the Berkshire venue, a track which seemed to suit his run-style so well last season. At his best when aggressively ridden, Tom Lacey’s six-year-old really came of age over fences when forceful tactics were employed in a couple of big handicaps in the spring and, if he pings out of the gate and gets into a decent early rhythm, he could take some pegging back from the front (all three chase winner here yesterday made all the running).

Another that makes plenty of appeal is MS PARFOIS (best price 11-2) who was also plying her trade at the very top-level last season. Two listed wins in mares’ only company were backed up by a commendable effort in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot behind Black Corton and that display set the ball rolling for her final couple of outings at the two spring Festivals. Runner-up in the four-mile NH Chase at Cheltenham, that sterling effort preceded another cracking performance when chasing home Terrefort in Grade 1 company at Aintree and it is easy to see why she has been so popular in the ante-post lists (was 20-1 when betting opened several weeks ago) given she boasts some of the best form from last season.

LADY BUTTONS (best price 4-1) has limited experience over fences, but she’s jumped brilliantly on her three starts to date and following an impressive comeback victory over hurdles at Wetherby last time out, Philip Kirby’s mare looks set to extent her trainer’s excellent recent spell of form.

A big, scopey mare, the daughter of Beneficial made a bright start to her life over fences when she dotted up in a listed race at Bangor and she followed that up with another impressive display at Newcastle in February. A creditable fourth in a Grade 1 at Aintree on her final outing, she began this campaign in terrific fashion when accounting for a choice selection of mares without turning a hair at the Yorkshire venue and providing she takes well to these stiff fences and gets into a good early rhythm, the eight-year-old has the class to make her presence felt when it matters most.