Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

NEWTIDE (NAP) (best price 6-4) didn’t look the fastest thing on four legs at Chepstow last time out, but considering he was running against several rivals who were trapping along at a fair rate of knots he can be excused on that front, and he’s fancied to make a much bigger impact this afternoon now racing over a trip which should suit him down to the ground.

Runner-up in a bumper for Colin Bowe in Ireland 584-days previously, understandably the son of Getaway wasn’t especially fancied to rip up any trees at the Welsh venue, but despite that turning out to be the case, he did keep on nicely in the latter stages in finish a never-nearer fourth. Moreover, the numbers the winner posted turned out to be extremely favourable for a race of that nature compared to all the other hurdle races on the card and even though he got beat 15 lengths on the day, his circuit time was still 3.6 seconds quicker than the other division of the same maiden hurdle won by Duke Of Kilcorral.

Although today’s track could well turn out to be on the sharp side for his huge frame, Kim Bailey’s charge at least has the thick end of three miles to work up a head of steam and hailing from a stable that still remains in the rudest of health, this scopey chasing type should be capable of playing a significant role.

Mr Whipped is bound to get all the headlines here following a promising performance on his chasing debut at Cheltenham, but whether he deserves to be chalked up a 1-2 poke to beat Springtown Lake and KNOCKROBIN (best price 10-1) is open to debate, and at the prices, the latter makes plenty of appeal to cause a mini shock.

A useful hurdler in his own right, Donald McCain’s gelding, however, always had the make and shape of a chaser and he lived up to that tag first time out of the larger obstacles by running a sound race to finish third to the smart Count Meribel. In a race noted for its strong pace that resulted in a big speed figure, the son of Robin Des Pres jumped pretty well in the main and although he couldn’t quite go with the eventual winner as he increased the tempo three from home, he still managed to keep on well on the run-in to obtain a decent slice of the pie. Given most his handler’s horses are now a good deal more forward now they’ve been able to get back on the grass gallops, the seven-year-old is sure to be a good deal sharper in all departments, and with today’s flat, left-handed track (jumped left at Carlisle) over his optimum trip likely to suit down to the ground, he can make a bold fist of things if ridden in his usual aggressive manner.

CARROLLS MILAN (best price 9-2) got beaten a fair way by Outofthisworld at Market Rasen last time, but so did Shantung (30 lengths) and that didn’t stop Lucy Wadham’s mare winning at Lingfield next time out, so there’s hope that the daughter of Milan can go close to repeating the same feat here this afternoon. Runner-up to the in-from mare Make My Heart Fly at Perth on hurdling debut back in September, Fergal O’Brien’s mare got completely done for toe as the field rounded the home bend and into the straight at the Lincolnshire venue, but she did at least recover some of her poise to stay on again into a creditable fourth on the run-in. Shaping as though she’s more about stamina than speed 27 days ago, today’s test against largely exposed handicappers should suit her skill set and she’s worth a small interesting in the with and without the favourite markets.

These fences took some jumping at the last meeting and even though they are likely to have been modified in the interim, they still should provide a stiff test, and with that in mind, the sure-footed STEPS AND STAIRS (best price 4-1) makes the most appeal.

Three wins in nine chase starts suggested Henry Oliver knows what he’s doing over the larger obstacles and his run first time out this season was a continuation of his progression from the previous one. In only failing by a neck to overhaul the race-fit Thyne For Gold, the son of Robin Des Pres kept on stoically all the way to the line and with most of his better efforts coming over three miles, today’s step up in trip should help him get back to winning ways.

Verdana Blue was always likely to be popular given her National Hunt profile, but based on her actual form on the all-weather, she doesn’t deserve to be quite as short in the betting and she’s passed over at the prices in favour of ARCHITECTURE (best price 3-1) and PIPES OF PEACE (best price 20-1).

The former has just had the one start at the Sunbury track and that witnessed her finishing a creditable runner-up to the hugely impressive winner Kasperenko. In a race run at a sound pace throughout, Hugo Palmer’s mare came out second best to a horse who ran 2.00.1 for the last circuit (roughly 2.04.0 the medium on the slow surface at present), but with herself clear of the subsequent winner Watersmeet back in fourth, the form looks solid enough for her to take a major hand if she can run to a similar level on her return visit here this evening.

Although only rated 88, latter would appear to have a mountain to climb against several proven listed performers, but his winning time figure last time out suggests Seamus Durack’s inmate is fully entitled to have a crack at a prize of this nature. Always moving well 18 days ago, the Galileo gelding found a cracking turn of foot in the closing stages for a stayer (only one horse managed to run faster from three out) and with his proven track form likely to offset any differences in terms of pure class, the four-year-old can punch significantly above his weight.