Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Having lowered the colours of Supreme Hurdle ante-post favourite Annamix at Limerick last time out, Press Conference is entitled to be a fairly warm order for this novice event, but he may not have it all his own way with SMOKING GUN (NAP) (best price 10-3) in the field and Joseph O’Brien’s gelding is fancied to continue his progression.

Tenacious in victory on his opening start of the season at Clonmel off the back a 284-day break, the son of Gold Well had to show similar qualities at the Greenmount Park venue over the Christmas period as a bad mistake at the last looked to have cooked his goose. Rallying bravely to the call, however, the six-year-old regained the advantage close home to get the better of previous winner Veneziano Springs and with the pair well clear in a decent time figure, the form looks solid. Although he could probably do with softer ground to be at his best (course did get 5mm overnight), today’s stiff track should compensate for that slight negative and further down the line he looks one to consider when he goes into handicap company.

Face The facts ran with great promise on his debut at Naas and looks bound to be all the rage to go one place better, there looks to be a better bet at the prices in the race on DISCORDANTLY (best price 15-2) in the without the favourite market. Having failed to set the world alight in his first two starts, unsurprisingly Jessica Harrington’s gelding was sent off a 25-1 poke at Cork last time out. In what turned out to be warm race on the speed figures, the son of Salutino found a nice bit of improvement to finish just in behind two highly-regarded types and having caught the eye by the way he kept on strongly all the way to the finish, today’s stiffer track should lend itself nicely to his qualities.

Thosedaysaregone landed a proper punt for the shrewd Charles Byrnes yard at Wetherby last time out and while he has to be respected, this contest represents a totally different test with regards to quality opposition.

The most interesting runner here arrives in the shape of SEDDON (best price 4-1) and he receives the confident vote on handicap debut. A winner on hurdling debut at Stratford back in the Autumn, Tom George’s charge has run really well in defeat on his last two starts in much stronger company and as the latter of those performances came over today’s track, that experience hopefully won’t be lost on the lightly-raced five-year-old. In a strongly-run affair at the Berkshire venue, the six-year-old just didn’t have the basic speed to cope with the strongly-fancied Angels Breath late on, but given that his conqueror is now favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, it just shows you what he was up against that afternoon. Likely to be suited by a step up in trip, a mark of 137 looks a fair starting point for the son of Stowaway.

As one would expect for the money on offer, a competitive field likely to be assembled for this sought-after prize, and while you’d be a brave man to push forward the case for a strong bet to be advised, CAPTAIN REDBEARD (best price 7-1) has enough in his favour to suggest he’s worth a small each-way interest.

Disappointing last time out over the big fences at Aintree, Stuart Coltherd’s 10-year-old is probably better judged on his form around today’s track and his performance previously when a gallant third to Vintage Clouds in a 3m 2f handicap chase back in December is a stronger barometer to his qualities. Indeed, that effort wouldn’t be the first time that the son of Bach has shone at the Merseyside venue and it’s also worth noting that he was runner-up to a rejuvenated The Dutchman in this race twelve months ago. Usually a strong traveller his races, that way of going is always likely to carry him into the business end of his races, and with his overall form figures over the course now reading an impressive 312123, the expectation of another place finish at the very least is by no means a bold viewpoint to take where this mud-lover is concerned.

All the rage before making his hurdling debut at Newbury, Downtown Getaway looks bound to be popular again in his bid to make amends for that costly demise, but at the same time, this looks far from a shoo-in for Nicky Henderson’s inmate and at the prices RUSSIAN HAWK (best price 11-2) makes far more appeal. Promising in a bumper at Wincanton towards the backend of last season, Colin Tizzard’s inmate was nicely backed on his hurdling debut at Exeter back in November and in a well-run affair, the five-year-old stayed on strongly in the latter stages to score with a bit up his sleeve. Without Robbie Power resorting to the whip at the West Country venue, the son of Malinas asserted his superiority close home and with the potential of plenty more to come from this strapping chasing type, he makes of appeal for the each-way bandits at his top morning odds.

A SURE WELCOME (best price 9-2) did incredibly well to score over tonight’s C&D last time out considering how much ground he forfeited by racing wide, and with a much more favourable draw on his return visit to the Dunstall Park venue, the all-weather specialist has a fine chance of adding to his previous seven wins. Racing in the first-time blinkers, John Spearing’s gelding was lit up in the early stages and spent the first part of the race expending unnecessary energy, so the fact that he managed to stay on as well as he did to fend off a whole host of challengers inside the final furlong is testimony to his bravery. Hopefully, this evening he will get some crucial cover around the inside and settle better and that proves to be the case, the five-year-old is likely to be in a position where by he’s almost certain to involved in the thick of the action late on.