Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

There’s something about the way SETTING SAIL (best price 5-4) carries himself during a race that suggests he could well be a pattern-race performer for further down the line and if that is to be the case, he ought to be up to turning away today’s opponents on ground that he’ll relish.

Workmanlike rather than spectacular when breaking his maiden tag at Goodwood on soft ground back in 2017, we had to wait 572 days to witness him in action again and as it turned out, the patience was well and truly rewarded. Contesting a novice event at Wolverhampton, Charlie Appleby’s was well-backed to make a successful return and in doing so, not only was visually impressive, but the figures he posted at the Dunstall Park venue were excellent too.

A big, imposing son of Dansili who fills the eye and devours the ground with his long stride, will hopefully come through today’s assignment with flying colours with a view to heading back to the Royal meeting next month.

Anthony Van Dyck flies the flag for a stable that has captured this prize four times in the last decade, but this may not be the stroll in the park the betting may have you believe and both EAGLES BY DAY (best price 11-2) and SEVERANCE (best price 33-1) are worth more than a second look at bigger odds.
The former represents a stable that has a nice team of staying three-year-olds on their hands and this fella is arguably pick of the bunch.

The way he strolled to victory at Salisbury on his seasonal return without coming off the bridle intimated he’s a colt of some class and potential and connections are fully entitled to see whether he’s good enough to take his chance at Epsom. 

The latter ran an extraordinary race at Haydock last time out and only a horse with a serious amount of raw ability could get away with what he did and still win. Pulling like a mustang in the early stages, Mick Channon’s colt picked up the running fully a mile out at the Merseyside track and even though the laws of physics suggested he’d burnt up too much petrol, he somehow managed to maintain his advantage all the way down the straight.

Clocking a fast time in the process, the son of Nathaniel is certainly capable of outrunning his outrageous morning quotes if he’s much more amenable to restraint this time around. 

SEVERANCE - 0.5PTS E/W @ 33/1

As ever, a typically competitive contest on our hands and one that will take sorting out, but there’s a decent chance that both CHRISTOPHER WOOD (best price 9-1) and ARTHINGTON (best price 22-1) can figure prominently based on the pick of their best form. 

The former represents the class of 2019 in the juvenile department and there’s every reason to believe this season’s crop are an above-average bunch. Although just coming up a bit short behind the top-class Pentland Hills in Grade 1 at Aintree last time out, he certainly covered himself with glory by finishing a close-up third, and having previously been quite impressive in victory at Newbury and Fontwell, Paul Nicholls’ gelding brings an element of quality to the party.

The latter represents a smallish yard not afraid to puff their chest out when it comes to big handicap hurdles (Chesterfield flew the flag for the Wiltshire handler several seasons ago) and he’s shown enough of an aptitude for these events in recent times to suggest he’s certainly not out of place on the big stage. His latest effort over today’s C&D, for example, is a fair barometer of his capabilities and this tough and consistent six-year-old should run his race whatever the ground.

Plenty of old favourites who’ve had their loyalty card stamped many times in these straight track races at the Berkshire venue, but it could well be that a new arrival on the scene in the shape of ALEMARATALYOUM (best price 25-1) is capable of causing a surprise at a big price. 

A progressive type last season, his most notable success came courtesy of a narrow-margin victory on his last start at Haydock in October and that success only further advertised his liking for genuine soft ground. When encountering such conditions, his for figures read an impressive 1121, so with any further showers on top of what they’ve had in the past few days will greatly increase his chance. Not surprisingly, given those stats, Stuart Williams’ gelding was always going to find six furlongs on good-to-firm ground totally alien to him on his first outing for new connections, and as that effort was also off the back of a 179-day break, he now should be a good deal sharper for the run.

Usually a strong traveller, the faster they go the better and providing he’s drawn on the right side, there’s every chance he can punch above his weight despite this being his first attempt at the track.

VANBRUGH (best price 5-1) couldn’t have been any more impressive on his debut for new connections at Thirsk and he’s strongly fancied to take another notable step up the ladder.

Rated 105 on his exploits with Andre Fabre, the son of First Defence was well-backed to get the job done off the back of a 156-day break at the Yorkshire venue and he didn’t disappoint. Coming with a sweeping run down the outside two furlongs from home, the four-year-old colt showed a clean pair of heels to some useful rivals and in stopping the clock in an eye-poppingly good time, he should have the necessary qualities to deal with a slight step up in class.