Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

AT THE ACORN (best price 13-8) shaped with loads of promise in a useful novice event at Limerick when last seen and he looks sure to go well in a race where only a few count.

Winner of a point-to-point for previous connections, the son of Gold Well understandably found himself slightly outpaced as the tempo increased on the run down to the second last at the Greenmount Park venue, but once he gathered his composure after the final flight, he came home with a fair rattle to finish within hailing distance of two above-average sorts. Although he probably would require further to be at his very best, today’s track always takes plenty of getting when the conditions are testing and he rates the value call of the leading players.

With some firms offering enhanced placed terms about this competitive handicap, it’s a race not to be brushed under the carpet from a betting perspective and THIRD WIND (best price 8-1) and BEFORE MIDNIGHT (best price 10-1) have done more than enough in the build up to the Final to shoehorn their names onto the team sheet.

The former has been plying his trade against some pretty smart novices this season and as all of his three performances have come about in decent speed figures events, Hughie Morrison’s gelding should be primed for the task ahead. Even though he has two victories next to his name, the son of Shirocco’s best effort on the numbers came when he was runner-up to the smart Phoenix Way in a qualifier at Plumpton and as he’s also shown a preference for a testing surface, today’s conditions should play into his strengths.

Nicky Henderson has had a runner in pretty much every qualifier on the way to the final, so the fact that stable jockey Nico De Bounville has elected Before Midnight is tip in itself (Pistol Whipped, Clarendon Street, Downtown Getaway, and Falco Blitz all big players along the way). Unlucky when unseating rider two out at Chepstow earlier in the season, the son of Midnight Legend would have handed out a tidy beating to Getaway Trump had he stayed on his feet that day, but he got his just rewards two start later at Taunton. Although only workmanlike at the West Country venue, the six-year-old at least showed a decent attitude to gain the day and having seemingly relished heavy ground when landing a bumper at Bangor last season, today’s conditions shouldn’t prove a stumbling block.

It’s got to the point where it’s a pretty pointless exercise in trying oppose Paul Nicholls in any race at present, let alone in valuable Saturday handicaps, so with the old adage of “If you can’t beat them, join them” ringing in the ears, MALAYA (best price 6-1) looks to hold solid claims of providing the Ditcheat handler with another notable success.

A faller on both of her previous outings, the daughter of Martaline was given what appeared to be a safety first ride at Ascot last time out and although she could only manage a respectable fourth-place finish at the Berkshire track, she well through the race like she had got some of her old swagger back. A keen sort, there’s a strong possibility that the five-year-old mare will be dropped out the back with a view to getting her settled and providing she does comply with her pilot early doors, a positive outcome is anticipated at the business end.

DOCUMENTING (NAP) (best price 4-1) knocked out some scarily good splits when hosing up over today’s C&D last time out and Kevin Frost’s improving gelding is strongly fancied to take down some big names in this competitive prize.

In a short space of time, the Zamindar gelding has quickly established himself as a real all-weather specialist and with two of his most destructive performances coming at the Dunstall Park track, it’s clear the Tapeta surface suits. The way he disposed of subsequent Lingfield scorer Sha La La La Lee here 31 days ago left the eyes watering and then if you then add it the fact he managed to achieve that feat by running the last two furlongs in an impressive 23.3 without coming out of a canter, it’s clear we are dealing with a pretty useful piece of kit. Likely to get the strong pace he requires with Arcanada in the field, the six-year-old can swoop to conquer late.

MERHOOB (best price 5-1) came home with the wind between his sails here last time out and he looks in the kind of shape that could dish out further damage to today’s similar set of opponents. Yet to win in three previous visits to the Dunstall Park venue, John Ryan’s gelding burst into life for the first time on the Tapeta surface 12 days ago, and the way he quickened up and bounded clear in a short space of time suggests he’s really come of age. Impressive on the eye, the son of Cape Cross was also not too shabby in the speed figure department either and providing he can run to a similar level on his return visit, there’s every chance of him following up.