Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Kachy has only suffered one defeat in his four starts on the all-weather and he has serious pace to burn, but he’s been priced up accordingly, so there could be some value to be had in the shape of the other synthetic specialist, CENOTAPH (best price 4-1).

A huge, big brute of a sprinter, Jeremy Noseda’s inmate landed his first three starts for new connections since switching from Aidan O’Brien and given the manner of each victory, it was a shock to the system to see him come unstuck up against the hitherto reluctant hero Mazzini (won in Dubai recently) at Kempton back in October. Returning to action at the same venue 91 days later, the War Front gelding was sent off a warm favourite in his bid to make amends, but despite doing very little wrong, he had the misfortune to bump into the rejuvenated Keystroke, who clocked an impressive 33 and change for the last three furlongs.

At his best when coming off a strong pace over six furlongs, the seven-year-old gelding should get everything he requires to perform at maximum capacity and he rates a solid each-way alternative to the jolly.

In a race where there’s bound to be no quarter asked or given, experience over the track could count for plenty in the final analysis, and with JETEZ (NAP) (best price 11-1) having run many splendid races at the Dublin venue over the last few season (form at track reads 241), he rates the value bet at the morning odds.

Although the son of Getaway has flirted with 2m 4f in the past, his best trip appears to be the minimum one, and his latest winning performance went some way to back up that view. In a soundly-run affair over the C&D 20 days ago, Jessica Harrington’s gelding sat comfortably behind the speed going down the back and as the field turned for home it was pretty clear he had loads left to offer. Once sent to the front after the last, the six-year-old strode out nicely all the way to the line and with conditions today set to be pretty similar on his return visit, a repeat of that effort isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

A good second to the very smart Felix Desjy at Punchestown last time out, he also brings solid Graded form to the table and that’s another reason to suggest he’s way overpriced at 12-1.

PADLEYOUROWNCANOE (best price 18-1) doesn’t have the sexy profile of some of these, but what he does have in buckle loads, is a really willing attitude and as today’s race is likely to get pretty ugly late on, Colin Tizzard’s gelding is one to have one your side in the trenches. Good enough to be fourth in last season’s Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival, the son of Nayef has progressed even further so far this campaign, and his latest victory at Wincanton typifies his upward curve. In a strongly-run contest at the West Country venue thanks to the endeavours of Monbeg Theatre, the five-year-old always seemed fairly comfortable going the pace, and once he turned his head for home, he knuckled down to the task at hand and ran hard all the way to the line.

As far as the form goes, the likes of previous winners Black Mischief and Rhythm Is A Dancer struggling in behind suggest the result was a totally believable one, and with Harry Kimber given another opportunity to shine in the saddle, the combination look unjustifiably overpriced in the morning lists.

Fit and healthy horses are what you are going to need under today’s conditions, and with Warren Greatrex’s team arguably in better shape than most, recent Warwick winner, KEEPER HILL (best price 9-1) is a must for the shortlist. Qualifying for the Pertemps final courtesy of that game victory at the Midland track, it seemed logical to think connections would put their charge away and wait for Cheltenham next month, but such is the pot on offer and given the horse’s wellbeing, the sporting owner have decided to roll the dice again with their in-form eight-year-old.

Clearly stamina is the number one asset the son of Westerner has in his locker and having proven that he handles bad ground well enough in the past, he’s also worth a small each-way interest in a wide-open contest.

LE RICHEBOURG (best price 2-1) has looked by some way the best two-mile novice chaser so far over fences in Ireland and he’s strongly fancied to confirm that opinion on his last start before the big one in Cheltenham. A useful hurdler, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding has scaled new heights since switching to fences and if it wasn’t for the fact that he seemed to be just outstayed by Delta Work over 2m 4f in the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse back in December, he would be arriving here unbeaten. Back on track last time when dropped back to his optimum distance, the son of Network made light work of his five opponents in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novices’ Chase over today’s C&D and considering one of his rivals that day was none other than Mengli Khan, the form looks as watertight as you will find. 

Predictably, the more fashionable stables are towards the fore in the betting for this concluding handicap, and that means there’s some value to be had with a couple that have flown under the radar in the shape of DUARIGLE (best price 10-1) and ÉCLAIR DE GUYE (best price 14-1). 

The former has yet to figure in the finish of three novice hurdles, but as each one was littered with potential top-quality talent, it’s little wonder Paul Henderson’s inmate has been on the periphery. Firstly, off the back of a 188-day break, the son of Dubai Destination shaped quite well in a hot novice event over today’s course back in November and with the likes of Finawn Bawn, Star Of Lanka, Oakley and West Of The Bridge all winning since, the form has a particularly strong look.

On to Newbury, and again up against a very smart bunch of novices, the seven-year-old managed to acquit himself with credit by finishing on the coat tails of Kateson (second in Challow Hurdle next time) and Mr Pumblechook (won since) and that was backed up by another honourable performance at Lingfield last time out.

In a strongly-run affair over 2m 7f, he impressed by the way he stuck to his task back in fifth and with the runner-up Samburu Shujaa, bolting up next time out, it’s clear we are dealing with another solid form line. Given how the way he’s shaped in all three outings, 2m 4f on soft ground around today’s stiff track should prove spot on and off a mark of 115, it will be disappointing if he isn’t competitive. 

The latter has also run in some pretty useful contests, none more so that the EBF Qualifier at Plumpton last time out. In what turned out to be a well-run affair, Lucy Wadham’s gelding ran about as well as could be expected up against many opponents destined to take their chance in the final at Sandown next month and having also showed ability on his two previous starts, 114 is a fairly workable mark to start off his handicap campaign.

MOON OVER GERMANY (best price 9-2) has clearly had his issues in recent times, but those enforced periods off the track mean that Henry De Bromhead’s gelding is fairly unexposed coming into handicap company for the first time over fences and he’s worth a roll of the dice to see whether his mark of 135 is on the generous side.

Lightly-raced when in the care of Edward Harty, the son of Germany just has the one win next to his name over hurdles and that came at the expense of the useful Ball D’Arc in a warm maiden hurdle at Navan back in 2015. Only seen out seven times since, the eight-year-old has now embarked on his chasing career a little late in the day for his new handler but the signs are that he has enough talent left in his locker to make up for lost time. His effort when a creditable third to the top-class Getabird on his chasing debut has not only been enhanced by the front two home that day, but the speed figure suggested it was a smart race of its kind and his latest effort over today’s C&D also indicated there are races to be won with him over the larger obstacles.

Although he couldn’t quite go with his classier stable mate Paloma Blue (runs in the Grade 1 earlier on the card) in the latter stages of what was a steadily run affair, the chestnut gelding kept on well enough on the run-in, and that initial experience of the stiff fences at the Dublin track will hopefully serve him well on his return visit here this afternoon.