Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

CONRON (best price 9-1) ran out a very easy winner on the Flat at Clonmel last time out and providing her can carry that level of performance back to hurdles, Jessica Harrington’s gelding must have bright prospects of keeping his tremendous track record intact.

A shock winner of a maiden hurdle on his first visit to the Co Kildare venue on hurdling debit this time last year, the son of Mastercraftsman followed up when successful in a C&D handicap in October. Well beaten when finding subsequent Champion Hurdle hero Espoir D’Allen and Co in a Grade 3 hurdle at Naas too hot to handle on his penultimate outing, the five-year-old took advantage of what appeared a lenient handicap mark on the level 13 days ago. Given how strong he was in the closing stages of the two-mile trip that day, this afternoon’s extra distance should prove ideal and rates a decent each-way proposition at the early morning prices.

ZERO TEN (NAP) (best price 13-8) couldn’t quite get the job done when well-backed at Fairyhouse last time out, but he travelled like a real class act and he’s afforded another chance land the final of the series he qualified for at Leopardstown back in March. 

Impressive both visually and on the clock at the Dublin venue, it was no great surprise to see Emmet Mullins’ gelding a warm order to make a seamless transition into Graded company 24 days ago and for nine tenths of the journey it looked like he was going to justify his position in the market. However, a brave effort by the unheralded Dommage Pour Toi rather rained on his parade and he had to settle for a gallant second, but in turn, he took the notable scalps of several proven performers and he’s strongly fancied to make no mistake this time around.

Quite a few of these have had particularly hard seasons so it remains to be seen how those with the best form shape up, but the same can’t be said about SCHOOL BOY HOURS (best price 25-1) who arrives here fresher than most having only just the one outing since the turn of the year. 

After a couple of untimely falls when strongly fancied to break his duck over hurdles, Noel Meade’s gelding finally got his just rewards for several promising performances with a smooth victory at Cork last time out. The way he disposed of the subsequent winner La Tektor at the Co Mallow venue suggested he certainly wouldn’t be out of place in better grade and with today’s test likely to prove right up his street, the son of Presenting rates one of the most appealing outsiders.

BLAST OF KOEMAN (best price 8-1) was a desperately unlucky loser in this race last year and arriving here off the back of a campaign that suggests connections have been dead set on a recovery mission, Robert Tyner’s inmate makes plenty of appeal. 

Sometimes mocked for not finding as much off the bridle as anticipated, the son of Shantou gave his detractors plenty of ammunition after throwing away what appeared a golden opportunity that presented itself twelve months ago, but to be fair to the eight-year-old, it was costly error at the last fence that ultimately prevented him from capturing what would have been his biggest prize so far to date.

Not seen out since landing a handicap hurdle over today’s course back in December (largely due to the fact he has to race right-handed), when his attitude couldn’t be faulted, he arrives here as fresh as paint and raring to give it his best shot.