Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

There’s always a danger that the ship may have already sailed backing a horse like MAKAWEE (best price 4-1) after she’s already dotted up twice on the spin, but there’s an argument to be made that she still could be ahead of the handicapper such as been the manner of her victories and she’s taken to complete the hat trick in the hands of one of the more reliable conveyances in the saddle.

Well-backed to get his season off to the perfect start, David O’Meara’s filly just came up a little short in a well-fought tussle at Hamilton, but since then she hasn’t looked back. Never out of third gear when bolting up over today’s C&D next time out, a quick turnaround was vindicated with another stroll in the park at Wetherby last time out and even though she now races off a 10lb higher rating and has to prove her worth on an easier surface, she has enough class to overcome both concerns.

RED HOT STREAK (best price 9-1) shaped better than the bare result when contesting an above-average novice event at Ripon on debut and he’s worth a small interest to see whether he can make the necessary step forward to take a hand in this similar event.

Easy to back at the Yorkshire track, Tim Easetrby’s colt travelled better than his odds suggested for a long way, but when the winner kicked at the two-furlong pole, he just didn’t have the necessary speed to match a horse who might end up in pattern company sooner rather than later. Still, even in finishing a five-length fourth, the son of Hot Streak managed to run to a fair level based on the clock and being a big, scopey type who should improve with further conditioning, a step up in trip with a bit more juice in the ground is likely to suit.

GREENSIDE (best price 11-2) is fairly reliable at this sort of level and having took this race back in 2017, Henry Candy’s inmate is fancied to regain his crown. A massive gamble when fourth in the Spring Cup at Newbury on his opening gambit to this campaign, the eight-year-old quickly made amends next time out when scoring tidily at Windsor. Upped in class for his latest start at Epsom, the Dubawi gelding ran about as well as could be expected given the circumstances, running on to claim a creditable third late on in a race where it paid to be on the speed. Yet to run a bad race in three starts at today’s track, a little give in the ground is also more than welcome and from a decent middle draw, Kieran Shoemark should be able to get his mount into a striking position turning for home.

CHARLIE STOUT (best price 7-1) is better known for his exploits over hurdles, but he did shape quite well when back on the Flat at Navan last week and he’s worth a small involvement to see whether he can build on that promising effort in this slightly weaker affair. Held up towards the back of the field at the Co Meath venue, given the way the race panned out, he was always going to be a victim to circumstances off the back of a slow pace and that’s how it proved. That said, he did manage to stay on nicely to finish a never-nearer third and even though he could ideally do with a little further than the 1m3f trip this afternoon, hopefully a better gallop this afternoon will help him on that score.

NET ROUSSE (NAP) (best price 15-8) has seen the backside of the progressive Pondus so far this term, but as James Fanshawe’s colt is likely to be flying fairly high at Royal Ascot this week, hopefully the daughter of Mastercraftsman could find today’s opposition a good deal more palatable. Althpugh beaten 10 lengths on her debut at Nottingham, the time figure was pretty hot and with several already coming out of that race to suggest it was an above-average affair, it has to be considered a decent starting point. Not having the basis speed to with her old rival at today’s track last time, she did, however, keep on nicely to claim a respectable third and with conditions this afternoon likely to prove more suitable, Ralph Beckett’s filly can provide his handler with another winner in this three-year-old stayi8ng fillies’ division.