Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

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 having missed a recent engagement due to the quick ground not being ideal over 2m, the testing conditions and extra trip today should turn out to be perfect for the son of Westerner.

Of the rest, Storm Arising shaped better than the bare form suggests on his rules debut and with the time figure and form of that race over today’s C&D squaring up well, Paul Nicholls’ inmate is one to consider at a bigger price.

Despite getting beat the thick end of 20 lengths on chasing debut at Market Rasen, MON PALOIS (NAP)(best price 4-1) still came out favourably on the speed figures, and with the anticipation of more to come from Kim Bailey’s gelding, there’s every chance he can post his fourth career victory.

In a race run at a blistering gallop throughout 30 days ago where there wasn’t any let up in tempo at any stage at the Lincolnshire track, the son of Muhaymin’s technique and appetite for his new discipline was tested to the max and having come through that initial examination with flying colours, it’s now onwards and upwards for the future. Form-wise, the race in question couldn’t have worked out any better with the likes of winner, Some Chaos, just bumping into one next time out and runner-up, The Two Amigos, scoring in game fashion at Exeter yesterday, so that aspect is clearly a huge positive. Moreover, all his three previous wins have taken place on, flat, left-handed tracks (one in bumper over today’s course on soft ground) and hailing from a stable going through a purple patch at present, the five-year-old should be capable of making some sort of impact.

One or two of these make for interesting viewing on their chasing debuts, but having garnered the most experience over fences with ten starts under his belt, KAYF BLANCO (best price 11-1) might just be able to utilise that advantage to full effect and pull off a shock.

A useful hurdler, rated 136 at his peak, Graeme McPherson’s gelding hasn’t quite lived up to expectations over the larger obstacles so far to date, but that’s not to say he hasn’t run up to a decent standard more often than not. Indeed, his performances last season against the likes of Favourito Bucks and Mercian Prince suggest it’s surely just a matter of time before the cards fall his way, and it’s nice to see the nine-year-old begin this campaign with plenty of promise. In finishing a creditable third to the hugely-progressive Drovers Lane at Hereford 16 days ago, the son of Kayf Tara posted another useful speed figure on to his chart and having finished runner-up on his two previous visits to today’s track over hurdles back in 2015, there’s every chance he will easily outrun his lofty early morning odds.

Micky Hammond came out of a little quiet spell with two nice winners at Sedgefield yesterday and CORNERSTONE LAD (best price 10-3) is fancied to keep up the good work for the Middleham handler. A useful juvenile last season, the son of Delegator finished in the money on each of his seven starts and with his best effort coming via a victory over Turning Gold in a well-run affair at Catterick, clearly a flat, left-handed track suits. Back in action after a 194-day break with an excellent effort on the Flat at Redcar last month, the four-year-old should be just about ready to spring back into action with the pipes well and truly cleared and he looks almost certain to go well with plenty in his favour.

The one that jumps off the page and smashes you between the eyes here is DE NAME ESCAPES ME (best price 5-2) and it’s just a question of whether he can transfer his recent excellent performances over hurdles back to the larger obstacles.

Very much a slow burn over fences so far to date, his best effort came when he was a creditable third to Close Shave at Thurles last season, but since then, he’s really taken off over timber. Third at the Punchestown Festival has been bettered this season by a smooth win at Naas off the back of a 198-day break and for nine tenths of his latest outing over today’s course he looked like following up only to get run out of the argument in the dying stages. Back to his favoured trip here this afternoon, the son of Vinnie Roe has the potential to make a mockery of his current chase mark if he jumping comes up to scratch.

If the favourite fails to figure it all out, then one of the chief beneficiaries could turn out to be MR DIABLO (best price 12-1) who looks massively underrated following his recent exploits in the Troytown over today’s course. Setting the field a merry dance from the start, the son of Presenting had everything cooked all bar the eventual winner Tout Est Permis and with the time figure very good and the pair finishing well clear of the rest, a repeat of that career-high performance now dropping back down to a more favoured trip should see the nine-year-old right in the thick of the action.