Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Given the weather forecast today with squally showers and gusty winds, conditions for the runners are going to be pretty testing at the Midland venue, but that shouldn’t inconvenience DIGER DAUDAIE (best price 11-2) too much and he’s fancied to go well in a race lacking a bit of quality.

Lightly-raced, the six-year-old shaped well in a novice event that has worked out nicely at Chepstow earlier in the season, so it came as no surprise given how well he ran that day to see him score next time out at Newcastle. Running under a penalty at Lingfield next time out, Charlie Longsdon’s gelding couldn’t quite cope with the likes of Geordie B and Samburu Shujaa in what turned out to be a well-run affair, but with the runner-up and the fifth going on to advertise the form since, his performance probably deserves more merit than it was afforded at the time.

Third in a strongly-run Pertemps Qualifier at Chepstow last time out (only five lengths behind the runner-up in the Final), the son of Tiger Groom once again impressed by the way he kept on stoically all the way to the line and it’s that stamina that should see him go well again here this afternoon.

Following a modest run over today’s C&D last time out, there has to be a slight element of doubt whether Le Coeur Net can justify favouritism, so with that in mind, the safest policy is to side with course specialist SKY FULL OF STARS (NAP) (best price 5-2) who has fewer convictions against his name. 

A winner over hurdles at the Sussex venue three starts ago, Chris Gordon’s nine-year-old went back to the scene of that victory to see whether he could exploit a reasonable chasing mark and having travelled throughout, he eventually delivered the goods in a driving finish. Strongly fancied to follow up on his return to the smaller obstacles at Taunton last time out, the son of Mahler never looked happy over that sharp right-handed track but now he returns to his happy hunting ground with conditions to suit, a positive outcome is anticipated. 

The race won by Éclair De Beaufeu (ran well in yesterday’s County Hurdle) over the C&D back in December wasn’t a bad race of its kind – certainly on the numbers – and having figured prominently in that well-run affair, DRIFTING BACK (best price 11-2) should take high rank in this similar event on his return visit.

Setting off at a decent clip here 79 days ago, Eric McNamara’s gelding still held every chance on the run down to the second last, but from that point he was just done for speed by several sharper and classier types and he could only plug on at the one speed to finish a creditable fourth. Prior to that solid effort, the son of Stowaway had also run well in a keenly-contest bumper at the Greenmount Park venue and having had the experience of racing around the track, that wisdom he’s gained should stand him in good stead in the final analysis. 

A cracking handicap hurdle on paper with several interesting novices making their debuts in this type of event and the two that are worth playing against the field at their respective odds are LORD NAPIER (best price 8-1) and HILL SIXTEEN (best price 11-1).

The former has earned top weight thanks to exploits in some cracking handicaps so far this season and it was good to see him gain due reward for some of those sterling efforts with a game victory at Sandown last time out. In a race that placed a heavy influence on stamina, Peter Bowen’s gelding saw the trip out extremely well and with similar conditions being the order of the day again this afternoon, this likable and tough sort is fancied to hold his own against some sexier types.

As mentioned there are a handful of lightly-raced novices that might have sneaked in under the handicapper’s radar and one of those could well turn out to be the latter. A string of frustrating placed efforts was erased when Sue Smith’s gelding slammed a smart field at Carlisle last time out and with the two that chased him home that day having already gone on to advertise the form subsequently (third was fourth in yesterday’s Martin Pipe handicap at Cheltenham), hope is high that this game grey can make full use of his light weight.

It what is sure to end up a war of attrition given the likely conditions, CHEF D’OEUVRE (best price 12-1) is fancied to make some sort of impact for a stable enjoying a stellar season.

Shaping as though in ned of the run off the back of a 306-day break for new connections here back in November, as expected, Sam England’s gelding has improved immeasurably since. Third in a decent contest at Carlisle next time out, the son of Martaline took advantage of a tumbling handicap mark to score in decisive fashion at Haydock two weeks later and it was his latest effort on his return to the Liverpool-based venue that really highlights his chances here this afternoon.

In a strongly-contest 28 days ago, the eight-year-old was always on the sharp end and although he couldn’t quite muster the killer blow in the closing stages, he still kept on bravely to finish a creditable third. Analysing this race over the years, most winners tend to race close to the pace and with a run-style that suggests he won’t be too far away early doors, this multiple heavy ground scorer can make his presence felt at the business end.