Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

CASA TALL (best price 6-1) didn’t manage to register a win during last season, but he did run some notable races in defeat and a repeat of either of his two better performances should make him competitive at the very least here this afternoon.

Outclassed but not disgraced in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Tom George’s gelding went on to post his best effort of the campaign when fourth in an equally competitive contest at Haydock last time out. Although he couldn’t quite go with the main protagonists in the closing stages, he did keep on willingly for pressure all the way to the line and with the form of the race having worked out well since, his performance looks a totally believable one. Lightly-raced and open to more improvement, today’s conditions should really suit the son of No Risk At All, and even though the competition at the West Country venue this afternoon appears quite strong, he’s fancied to more than hold his own.

The way Invincible Spirit scored at Doncaster on his seasonal return suggests he’s in for a productive campaign in this division but chasing him home that day was MAJOR JUMBO (best price 12-1) and at the morning prices, Kevin Ryan’s gelding makes slightly more appeal.

Entitled to need the run off the back of a 168-day break, the five-year-old grey proved that he’s more than capable of holding his own in pattern company on the evidence of what we saw on Town Moor and he went on to vindicate that theory again at Newmarket last time out. Despite dropping back down in trip, the son of Zebedee was more than a match for of the fastest sprinters around and now racing back over his more-favoured six-furlongs on a track where his form figures read 31341, this likeable and ever-consistent performer is fancied to punch above his weight.

Housed in a small stable, FRAMLEY GARTH (best price 12-1) is never likely to capture many headlines, but he does save some of his best performances for today’s course and for that reason, he’s worth considering at a big price.

On the four times he raced on the Knavesmire for previous trainer Laurence Mullaney, the seven-year-old’s form figures read 1234 and with three of those efforts coming in decent-sized fields when the pace was strong, there’s every reason to believe today’s examination will allow him to run somewhere near his best. Back on a workable mark despite running perfectly respectably for new handler Liam Bailey on his two outings so far this season, the son of Clodovil rates a fair each-way proposition at his morning odds.

SACRED WARNER (best price 8-1) has shaped as though he probably wants further than a mile, but at least he’s got a stiff uphill climb to the line to help his cause tonight and for that reason, he’s worth a small interest at the morning prices. Having his first start in handicap company at Lingfield last time out, Clive Cox’s inmate didn’t get the clearest of runs at a crucial stage at the Surrey track, but he did catch the eye with the way he finished off his race to sneak just in behind the main players and that was a sure sigh that he’s capable of doing well in this sort of grade off his current rating.