Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

CHAPARREL DREAM (best price 9-4) has yet to win a race in 16 starts, which has to be a bit of concern at a short price, but he’s been plying his trade in some pretty hot handicaps over in Dundalk and as the standard of tonight’s race would be his easiest he’s encountered for quite a while on paper, Ado McGuiness’ gelding simply won’t have a better opportunity to finally get the monkey off his back.

At times, the son of High Chaparral has looked a bit one-paced in his races, but when you consider the sort of horses he’s been taking on in a finish, it’s little wonder that he’s sometimes come out second best. Park Row, for instance, who beat him at the Co Lough venue back in September has now risen up the ranks to a rating of 78 and the filly he finished behind when last seen, Too Precious, is genuine 90-rated performer. Actually lower here tonight than his Irish rating, which is a rarity, he has a nice draw and hopefully a decent pace to shoot at, and given the record of the raiders from over the Irish Sea here on the Tapeta, it’s reasonable to assume he will very much take to the surface and prove an instant hit for his adventurous connections.

Of the rest, if it wasn’t for the coffin box draw, bottom weight STAY IN THE LIGHT (best price 12-1) would have been a stronger recommendation as she caught the eye for the first time in ages in no uncertain terms at Lingfield last time out. Held towards the rear of mid-division at the halfway stage, Roger Ingram’s filly was coming with what looked a really potent challenge rounding the home bend, but unfortunately from that point onwards, she got the door constantly slammed in her face. Where she would have finished with a clear run is anyone’s guess, but at least she proved there’s some sort of hope that she might be capable of winning a small race somewhere and even tonight’s 13 stall will probably make life extremely tricky for the daughter of Showcasing, at 20-1, she has to be worth a small roll of the dice to vindicate the impression she created at the Surrey venue.

The career of MAGICAL MOLLY JOE (NAP) (best price 5-1) has really turned the corner since the fitting of a hood and following another solid effort of Newcastle on the numbers last time out, David Barons’ mare is fancied to regather her momentum on the return to the track where she broke her maiden tag three starts ago. Racing in the first-time headgear back in December, the daughter of Arabian Gleam was dropped out the back with the view of allowing her to settle and with that plan working out a treat, she was able to come through with a withering late run up the inside to claim the spoils close home. Unfortunately, a slipping saddle prevented her following up on his next visit to the Dunstall Park venue, back she put that untimely episode behind her on her most recent outing. Once again held up towards the rear by design due to her high draw, the five-year-old had quite a bit on her plate as the field swept past the two-furlong marker, but despite being hampered in the run, she still finished her race of strongest of all to gain a slice of the pie close home and she certainly left the impression that there’s plenty more races to be won with her when things pan out in a more orderly fashion. Although stall one isn’t normally considered a great draw over the seven-furlong trip at the Midland track, it should actually work in her favour because she will hopefully be buried and switched off up the inside curb, and if she gets the gaps opening at the right time down the straight, she has the kick finish to get herself heavily involved in the final assessments.