Three tips today from our expert tipster Andy Holding.
17:25 Epsom
SIRIUS SLEW (best price 10-1) ran way better than his finishing position suggested at Doncaster last time out and with Alan Bailey’s inmate slipping into Class 6 company for the first time in his career, he looks set to take advantage.
Although yet to win a race in 10 starts, the Epaulette gelding has hit the crossbar on several occasions and his latest effort on Town Moor more than indicated there’s plenty of scope for him to end that unwanted tag sooner rather than later. Noted going well just in behind the pace at halfway 10 days ago, the three-year-old then ran into traffic dropping back in his lap just at the wrong time and by the time he’d wriggled his way out of trouble, the race was effectively over. The way he finished off his race, however, suggested he’d got plenty of running left in the tank and providing he can carry forward than level of form over to today’s unique venue, there’s every chance he can go close from his favoured low draw.
18:40 Ballinrobe
LE HACHETTE (NAP) (best price 6-1), reverting back to forceful front-running tactics last time out produced a smart performance over tonight’s C&D and with the distinct likelihood that she will be asked to go out and repeat the dose, the locally-trained six-year-old rates a strong choice back in handicap company off what still appears a fair mark.
Slightly below-par when held up and ultimately given too much to do over 3m1f at Kilbeggan the time before, the decision to make the running proved an inspired one as, just had she’d done when winning a point-to-point from the front back in December, she completely bossed proceedings before going on to win as comfortably as you like. In doing so, John Ryan’s mare posted some pretty smart numbers compared to the rest of the card and with the conditional-of-the-moment, Darragh O’Keeffe, retaining the association in the plate, she’s has all the assistance she needs to serve it up to them again at the head of affairs.
19:50 Bath
The race won by Sweet Pursuit here last week was noted for its very fast speed figure and having played a significant part in the final outcome, PRINCELY (best price 4-1) is taken to carry for the torch for that useful event for grade back into these slightly calmer waters.
Up against the likes of track specialists, such as the winner and Delegate This Lord, Tony Newcombe’s colt was always likely to find it a baptism of fire on his first outing at the course, so the fact that he managed to go toe-to-toe with some pretty speedy sorts is testimony to his qualities at a fairly low level. Unlucky to bump into the massively in-form Major Valentine at his happy hunting ground at Chepstow the time before, it’s clear that the son of Compton Place is running extremely well despite not getting his head in front, but that has every chance of changing tonight and he rates a decent bet at the morning odds.
