Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

DENTLEY DE MEE (NAP) (best price 5-2) hasn’t won for a little while, but today’s contest represents a significant drop in the quality of opposition he’s been taking on recently, so it makes perfect sense to keep Nick Williams’ gelding on side.

A creditable fourth on his chasing debut in a competitive novices’ handicap at Sandown back in November, the son of Lauro has proceeded to run consistently well since and his latest effort when filling out the same position in a hot contest at Cheltenham on trials day suggest he’s improving with each run over fences. Although that performance was on soft ground, it’s worth pointing out his two career wins have both come courtesy of a fast surface and with a better record going right-handed that left, the six-year-old rates a decent bet to finally get off the mark over the larger obstacles.

There could be a battle for early supremacy on here with PURPLE ROCK (best price 2-1) and Harbour Harbour Quay both showing a preference to race handy, but the former is fancied to come out on top in that department and run his rivals into the ground. Jumped out to make all the running over the C&D last time out, Gay Kellaway’s gelding dictated a sound pace throughout and even when challenged down the home straight, he managed to have enough in reserves to bat away the strongly-fancied Country’N’Western. In doing so he posted a very smart finishing kick from the three-furlong pole of 36.2 and with nothing in today’s field having got remotely near that sort of speed at this track in the past, it would be a surprise if anything was to match the son of Fastnet Rock in the closing stages.

The first thing to notice here is there looks to be plenty of pace signed on with the likes of Saint Equiano, Gurkha Friend and Space Bandit all likely to vying for a piece of the early action, so with that in mind, it may pay to look towards the likes of deep-closers, WELD AL EMARAT (best price 7-2) and CUSTARD THE DRAGON (best price 12-1).

The former has a terrific record on the Fibresand surface, having only been beaten here once in four starts, and given that was largely down to the fact he was posted out on the wing in gate 13 of 13, he can easily be forgiven on that score. Back to his best over the C&D last time out, the son of Dubawi came home in an impressive 36.5 from three out to cut down his rivals late on, and with those sort of fractions in his locker, he makes plenty of appeal to be fully effective at the business end.

The latter has a bit to find with Saint Equiano on their recent clash, but as his main rival is unlikely to be given much peace up front today, John Mackie’s gelding has a sporting chance of turning the tables. Either way, he looks overpriced based on his overall record at today’s track and he also arrives here in good heart having taken part in one of the best seven-furlong contest run on the all-weather during the winter.

Not for the first time, REIGNITE (best price 10-3) got going far too late at Lingfield last time out, but the way he finished off his race suggested there’s a decent engine under the bonnet for a horse rated 59 and he’s given another chance to prove his worth at this bargain-basement level tonight.

Outpaced over six furlongs several times previously, Emma Owen’s inmate was quite rightly stepped up in trip at the Surrey venue to see whether that aided his cause and although he was never involved in the meat of the race at any stage, his closing sectional of 23.4, was the fastest split of the 14-strong field. Gelded since, the son of Firebreak has been pitched into a race where there looks to be plenty of pace on early (Hungarian Rhapsody and Elusif made all last time) and that should allow his finishing kick to come into its own.