Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Blue Point looks very hard to oppose in his bid to be crowned the world’s best sprinter, but at the same time, his current odds reflect his supposed superiority. The better option, therefore, is to perhaps look towards the ‘without the favourite’ market in a bid to seek some value and the standout bet at the prices is EKHTIYAAR w/o fav (best price 11-1). Although Doug Watson’s gelding was firmly put in his place by his old rival here last time out, he did finish well clear of the rest in second and based on the theory that wherever Blue Point finishes he should be there or thereabouts again, this consistent sprinter should be capable of keeping his excellent course record intact (form figures of 312).

MOOTASADIR (best price 5-1) is an impressive 5-5 on an all-weather surface and he’s strongly fancied in his bid to keep that unbeaten record intact. A smooth winner on his debut at Chelmsford early last season, the Dansili colt has continued to thrive in a relatively short space of time, and his latest victory at Wolverhampton capped his meteoritic rise towards the top of the tree. Always moving sweetly at the Dunstall Park venue, the imposing four-year-old readily accounted for some useful sorts and in dominating proceedings from the front, he also showed his versatility tactically. Although dropping down two furlongs this afternoon, it’s worth pointing out that he’s scored twice over today’s trip in the past and with the pace likely to be fairly even courtesy of the front-running Matterhorn in the line-up, Hugo Palmer’s inmate should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least.

A good collection of sprinters go to post for this competitive-looking handicap, but there’s a decent chance that SOLDIER’S MINUTE (best price 4-1) will prove a cut-above his opposition if reproducing his scintillating success over the C&D seven days ago.

Having his first run since a gelding operation, Keith Dalgleish’s inmate was always travelling well within himself right from the start and then once asked for his effort going passed the intersection, he quickened in the style of a very smart operator. Indeed, his final three-furlong split of 34.0 off the back of a tidy overall speed figure suggests he’s one of the best six-furlong sprinters to run at the track for some time, so even though today’s contest is clearly a tougher assignment, the numbers point towards him being good enough to bridge the gap.

As many of today’s fancied competitors have already raced at the Surrey venue at some stage this winter, the form has a fairly settled look, and the one that stands out having posted the best set of figures over the C&D recently is COUNT CALABASH (best price 13-2). Having already built up a fairly decent rapport over the right-handed galloping circuit, with a win and a runner-up spot next to his name from previous encounters, Eve Johnson-Houghton’s gelding was strongly fancied to add to his impressive tally on his most recent outing a month ago. Setting off with plenty of intent, the five-year-old made sure the pace was strong through the first mile of the contest and then once straightening up for home, he kicked again to pull readily clear of his toiling rivals. Clocking a tremendous overall time figure for the grade, the son of Big Bad Bob also posted the fastest circuit time achieved by any horse at the track this winter and even though the handicapper has tried a little in his attempt to redress the balance, just a 5lb rise in the ratings shouldn’t be enough to prevent from repeating the dose.

EARDLEY ROAD (best price 11-2) created a lasting impression by coming from some way back to score on his debut here 30 days ago and with today’s extra furlong threatening to play even more into his strengths, Clive Cox’s exciting prospect is taken to continue his progression.

Green and unable to go the early fractions at the Surrey venue, the son of No Nay Never still had plenty left on his plate as the field turned for home, but in finding a smart turn of foot inside the final two furlongs, he ended up winning readily with quite a bit to spare. Although he could have been better served by the draw today, hopefully he will at least be a good deal sharper out of the gates and providing he’s turns for home within striking distance of the pace-setters, there’s every chance he will be competitive in the final analysis.