Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

A slow start over the minimum trip at Southwell is usually curtains, so the fact that TWENTYSVENTHLANCERS (NAP) (best price 10-3) managed to come from some way off the pace to gun down the in-from Warrior’s Valley here last time suggests he’s in the rudest of health and he’s fancied to back up that impressive victory on his return visit.

Runner-up to the another in-form rival in the shape of Gorgeous General the time before, Paul Midgley’s gelding seemingly had a better chance on the book than his 10-1 odds implied 15 days ago, and so it proved, as he stayed on powerfully from that unpromising position at halfway to get up close home. Moreover, his overall time figure and closing sectionals compared favourable against the other five-furlong contest on the card won by the now 74-rated Lille, so based on those findings, just a 3lb hike in the ratings – which still allows him to run in 0-60 company – shouldn’t be enough to stop the son of Hellvelyn from scoring again providing he’s in the same mood.

Back On The Lash clearly has the best singular piece of form next to his name in beating subsequent Newbury scorer Humble Hero at Ludlow last time out, but whether he can cope with the huge jump in in trip in one fell swoop is the burning question and at the morning odds (7-4 at time of writing), he’s just simply too big a risk.

Of those who are proven over three miles, Ballyhome has confirmed C&D form on his CV and he looks a solid contender, but so too does REDZOR (best price 6-1) and Dan Skelton’s inmate makes the most appeal at the prices. Although his only victory so far to date came courtesy of the stewards’ room at Ludlow two starts ago, the son of Shantou proved that performance at the Shropshire track was no fluke when he chased home the potentially smart Fontsanta in a keenly-contested novice event at Hereford last time out. In a race where there was no hiding place due to a strong pace throughout, the six-year-old kept on well in the closing stages to finish an honourable runner-up to the impressive winner and with the time figure unsurprisingly good and the likes of Master Card, Chinensis and the well-fancied Lydon Rock (rated 125), all soundly beaten in behind, the overall form of the race has a really solid feel to it. Whether an opening handicap mark of 130 is insurmountable only time will tell, but either way, the fact that he’s proven over three miles on good ground has to count for plenty and he looks to be overpriced based on his overall profile.