Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

As we saw the other day at Ayr, GETAWAY TRUMP (best price 7-2) is a useful piece of kit when on song and he looks sure to go well despite the steadier of top weight. Strongly fancied for the Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Ascot earlier in the season, things didn’t pan out for Paul Nicholls’ gelding that day, but when ridden a little more handily at the Scottish venue two weeks ago, he looked like the kind of horse that had connections thinking down the Supreme Novices route. A strong traveller with a smart turn of foot, today’s conditions should be ideal for this classy type and it would be a surprise if he didn’t have some sort of say in the final outcome.

The ever-popular Black Corton would be a fitting winner for Bryony Frost on her comeback ride, but SAN BENEDETO (best price 15-2) shouldn’t be forgotten and might just have the necessary qualities to gain the stable bragging rights.

Although well beaten in the John Hughes last time out at Aintree, it was probably not a bad effort under the circumstances considering the ground had totally gone against Paul Nicholls’ gelding and if you are prepared to cast that run to one side and concentrate on his previous victory at Newbury, then he has to be seen as a major player. The feature of that 2m4f handicap at the Berkshire venue back in February was the incredibly strong pace throughout and with the likes of Gala Ball, Mercian Prince, and Azzuri all winning since, the strength of the form is there for all to see. Providing the rain keeps away, today’s extra two furlongs should be well within his compass and he rates the percentage call with doubts over so many of his rivals.

If the last meeting here was anything to go by, the far side rail certainly wasn’t a disadvantage on the straight track when the groups split into two groups and providing Joe Fanning sends SANDRA’S SECRET (best price 12-1) on a solo mission to hunt that potentially favoured part of the track, Les Eyre’s mare has a decent chance of registering win number three at today’s venue.

Twice last season the daughter of Zebedee made all the running to success at the Garden racecourse and she followed up by replicating the same feat at York in mid-June. Shaping as though badly in need of the run over five-furlongs at Pontefract off the back of a 296-day break, the six-year-old grey should strip a good deal fitter from that initial outing and providing the course doesn’t soak up too much of the predicted rain, she clearly has better prospects than her morning odds imply.

Whether ROLLING DYLAN (best price 25-1) has the stomach for a race of this nature is open to question, but he certainly has the talent and for that reason he’s worth a small interest at his morning odds. Often a smooth traveller in his races, his tendency to muck about when under maximum pressure is a constant source of frustration and that was once again the case at Taunton last time out when it looked for all the world like he was going better than eventual winner Samuel Jackson. He did, however, prove that he stays a well-run contest over a trip similar to today’s and having also run well at Sandown earlier in the season, he does tick a few important boxes. Hailing from a yard that traditionally has done well in this race over the years, it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise if Philip Hobbs’ gelding shoehorned himself into the placings at the very least.

Quite a few ifs and buts in this complex-looking affair, and a chance is taken on YOUNEVERCALL (best price 3-1) in the hope the recent wind surgery may just bring about a degree of improvement. A convincing winner of a Pertemps Qualifier at Kempton in the first-time pieces back in November, Kim Bailey’s gelding was pitched into the deep end when asked to contest the Grade 1 JLT Hurdle at Ascot when last seen. Unsurprisingly coming up short that day, the son of Yeats arrives here a fresh horse after a break of 126 days and with his yard working wonders with a similar type in the shape of Robin The Raven at Warwick two days ago, confidence has increased he can repeat the dose at rewarding odds.

CHAMPAGNE COURT (best price 5-1) has been a model of consistency during the campaign and he’s fancied to make some sort of impact in what looks a trappy conclusion to the jumps season.

Not quite up to scratch in Grade 2 company at Warwick in mid-winter, Jeremy Scott’s gelding ran a blinder when back among handicappers in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen and a repeat of those exploits should see him go close to rewarding solid each-way support.

Without question, Fujaira Prince falls into the ‘could be anything’ category and he could easily end up making a mockery of his current handicap mark, but at the same time, LUNAR JET (best price 6-1) has enough in his favour to be given the vote as a strong each-way alternative.

For the second season running, John Mackie’s gelding scored first time out at Newbury and the manner of victory at the Berkshire venue 14 days suggested he’d improved significantly on the back of a decent spell over hurdles. Clearly, a well-run contest over 1m2f with plenty of juice in the ground suits the son of Ask and having run well on his two previous visits to the Yorkshire track over timber, another bold show is anticipated.