Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Some unexposed types difficult to get a handle on make this an intriguing affair, but TIGHT CALL (best price 6-1), nestling right down the foot of the weights, might just be capable of making some sort of impact based on his recent exploits. A dual winner during the Autumn months, Tim Vaughan’s inmate has been kept on the go and placed where the ground has suited best and his latest effort when runner-up in an ultra-competitive heat at Wincanton certainly reads well in the context of today’s race. Although he couldn’t quite go with the ready winner, Tedham, after the last, he kept on well enough to finish nicely clear of the rest, and with one of those being subsequent scorer, Earlofthecotswolds, the form doesn’t appear too shabby. The two improving novices, Cloudy Glen and Umndeni (untidy jumper) are clearly two opponents worth respecting, but providing the ground isn’t too sticky for this light-framed son of Mahler, he can more than hold his own.

MEGA YEATS (best price 6-1) is a horse connections hold in the highest regard and she gets the chance to justify that opinion in her toughest test to date. Bought for 60k after winning a point-to-point, Ruth Jefferson’s mare started off by winning a bumper at Carlisle in fine style before going on to run a blinder in what’s turned out to be hot contest, form-wise, at Cheltenham back in November. Quickly sent over hurdles, the daughter of Yeats got off the mark at the first attempt with a polished display at Wetherby and with the runner-up going on to score subsequently, it had to be considered a decent starting point for this potentially useful mare. Being as though plenty of use was made of her at the Yorkshire venue, one would imagine that similar tactics will be the order of the day here this afternoon around a track that often complements front runners and this future chasing prospect, who holds significant entries in several races at the Cheltenham Festival, can continue her merry way up the ranks.

REIKERS ISLAND (best price 11-4) should really have won at Newbury last time out and he’s taken to gain some sort of compensation in this similar contest. A smooth winner of a hot novice event at Wincanton the time before, Philip Hobbs’ gelding was well-supported on his first attempt in open handicap company and going down to the last at the Berkshire venue, he looked like he was going to take the scalp of some notable and more established older horses. Unfortunately, horse and jockey had a difference of opinion as to what stride to take the obstacle and, as a result, the six-year-old hit it halfway up and almost got rid of Richard Johnson on the landing side. Unable to regather his momentum, the son of Yeats had to settle for an honourable fourth, but in doing so, he left the impression there are plenty of races to be won off his current mark and with his previous winning effort coming over a right-handed track, today’s circuit should prove ideal. Black Corton takes significant drop in class and has plenty of solid top-class form to count on, but the vote just goes in favour of the younger horse with fewer battle scars of late.

SMOKING GUN (best price 15-2) proved a bitter disappointment when sent off a well-backed favourite at Navan last time out, but he’s surely better than that run suggested, and he’s fancied to vindicate that view on his first try in handicap company. A good winner at Clonmel earlier in the campaign, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding then went to Limerick over the Christmas period in a bid to continue his progression and despite uprooting the final flight, he still managed to keep his winning run intact. On the evidence of that display at the Greenmount Park venue, the son of Gold Well seemed to thrive on a stamina-laden environment, so maybe the quicker ground on his latest start just found him out. Either way, today’s step up 2m4f should prove ideal and off a workable mark of 120, he rates a decent each-way bet at the morning odds.

GEORDIE B (best price 9-1) showed that he was well suited by a thorough test at Lingfield last time out so even though he could probably do with the ground being a bit slower, he’s still worth a small interest at the prices.

Unsuited by 2m3f on quick ground on his first outing of the season, Venetia Williams’ gelding proved a totally different proposition next time out at Hereford when pushing the useful Star Of Lanka all the way to the line in a well-run affair. Upped in trip again last time out at the Surrey venue, the son of Geordieland stayed on strongly in the latter stages to gain the day over the smart Samburu Shujaa, and with the runner-up going on to advertise the form at Chepstow next time, his new rating of 133 seems a fair assessment of his progression.

DAYDREAM AULMES (best price 5-1) has been very hard to clobber by the handicapper because of his unwillingness to win by too far and having completed a splendid hat trick at Huntingdon last time out, there could be enough left in the tank for him to go in again.

In a well-run affair at the Cambridgeshire venue, Graeme McPherson’s gelding was noted going well from some way out, and once produced with his challenge at the last, it looked a question of how far he was going to win. As usual, however, he only did enough as he needed to get the job done on the run-in and for that reason, he still arrives here a relatively well-treated horse. Seemingly suited by a test of stamina that day, today’s step up in trip should provide little difficulties and he rates one to keep on side.

Another that catches the eye as being a novice with untapped potential is MODERN WARFAIR (best price 9-1) and he, too, is worth a small interest to back up his latest victory at Doncaster. Having found himself outpaced on Town Moor, Tim Vaughan’s gelding looked an extremely unlikely winner three out, but in staying on best of all, he gradually wore down the hare to the hounds, KK Lexion, close home.

SHOW ON THE ROAD (best price 14-1) has run respectably on his three starts over fences without setting the world alight, but he has plenty of decent form over hurdles and the switch back could well turn out to be a shrewd move by connections.

At his best last season when stamina was at a premium, it’s noticeable that two of his better performances came over today’s course and even though he failed to finish off the season on a positive note at Sandown, the race was probably best forgotten as it wasn’t run to suit. Having proven that he stays this sort of trip well on two of those three outings over the larger obstacles, this game and honest eight-year-old deserves more than a second look in the early markets.