Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

The first thing to point out here is that this meeting will be the first one where there’s a big field on the recently-redeveloped straight track, so therefore the draw will be of some significance. Regards this race, the two-year-old contest half-an-hour earlier should give punters some sort of guide as to where the best ground is so it could be worth hanging on till as late as possible before getting heavily involved.

FACE OFF (best price 9-1) arrives here in decent shape following a solid performance in a hot handicap at the Curragh last time out and providing his draw in stall one over on the far side doesn’t prove to be her undoing, she has enough quality to make her presence felt. Having scored in impressive fashion the time before at Navan, Charles O’Brien’s filly was well-backed to follow up despite being off the track for 62 days and even though she just came up a bit short in her bid for glory, she certainly wasn’t disgraced in finishing a close-up third behind the in-from Master Matt (runner-up at the Curragh last night). Coming through strongly at the end, the four-year-old grey shaped as though an extra furlong wouldn’t go amiss and she remains one to keep on side while in her current frame of mind.

The recent rain might have just gone against last year’s winner Gunmetal so it may pay to look elsewhere for a new name on the winners’ trophy. Dakota Gold, runner-up twelve months ago, won’t mind the ground and he also arrives here in better shape than his old rival thanks to his gutsy victory from the front at York last time out, so for those reasons, Michael Dods’ five-year-old has to be shortlist material.

Another for whom it’s impossible not to include in calculations is SUMMERGHAND (best price 10-1) and he rates as a fairly solid-looking each-way proposition. A creditable fifth in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot, David O’Meara’s inmate surpassed that effort slightly in the Stewards Cup last time out and a repeat of either performance will surely be good enough to see him in the mix. Moreover, he has plenty of form on soft ground and he’s also proven over the C&D, so it’s hard to ignore his obvious claims.

If there was such a thing as the prize for the unluckiest loser at this year’s Galway Festival, BECKWITH PLACE (NAP) (best price 15-8) would have won it hands down and he’s strongly fancied to gain deserved compensation.

A big eye-catcher the time before at Bellewstown when he was screaming for room at a crucial stage, a similar fate awaited Tracey Collins’ gelding at Ballybrit, but with much more severe consequences for punters. A heavily-backed favourite on the last race on the card on day two (4-1 into 2-1), the son of Mastercraftsman forfeited his decent low draw with a tardy start and from that point onwards he was always playing catch up. He did, however, finish off his race with such gusto that only a total madman would have argued he wasn’t the best horse in the race by a mile, and with the winner, Make A Challenge going on to score twice subsequently, the form couldn’t be any stronger. Despite being deservedly 5lb higher, we know he arrives here in tremendous shape and with conditions to suit, so there can’t be too many excuses if he fails to deliver with a clear run.

CONTRAPPOSTO (best price 5-1) continues to frustrate the life out of his supporters, but to be fair to the five-year-old, he has been in fairly choppy waters of late and he might just turn out to be better off, like he is today, as a big fish in a small pond.

Apart from when being asked to race over a mile, the son of Cacique has run pretty well when he’s encountered a more realistic test and his latest effort when fourth at Gowran only further advertised his propensity to hold his own against some useful middle-distance handicappers. The likes of Perfect Tapatino, Trossachs, and De Name Escapes Me are all capable of mixing it in big premier handicaps and if it wasn’t for meeting severe interference inside the final two furlongs, Ann O’Shea’s gelding might have taken the scalps of that illustrious trio. Although his regular pilot isn’t the epitome of grace in the saddle, at least he knows his mount well and with soft ground very much in favour of the five-year-old, the top weight can make his class tell in the weakest race he’s encountered for some time.

Supporters of MOLLY KAYE (best price 9-2) had to wait quite a while for her to finally get her head in front, but such was the manner of the winning performance at Ballinrobe last time out, that it’s easy to see her repeating the dose.

Unlucky to stumble across the likes of Linger (won twice at Galway) and Galeola (won twice since) previously, the daughter of Multiplex was finally found a race where there weren’t any superstars lurking in the midst, and she took full advantage in no uncertain terms. Always travelling well at the Co Mayo venue, the six-year-old quickened up really well once the gap appeared rounding the home turn at the two pole and from that moment onwards, the race was always in safe-keeping. A well-balanced type who clearly doesn’t mind winging around tight, right-handed bends, soft ground is certainly no issue either and it’s difficult to see her not going well with seemingly plenty in her favour. Obviously, first reserve Havingagoodtime would look a handicap snip off a mark of 45 compared to his hurdle form if he were to get a run, but it’s worth pointing out that his trainer, Henry De Bromhead has gone over two weeks and 21 runners since a win. Food for thought.