Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

It could well be that TRIPLE SPEAR (best price 25-1) may have alternatives plans further down the line, mainly in handicaps, but he certainly showed enough last time out at Beverley to indicate he has enough ability to at least hold his own in this sort of company and at the morning odds, he’s worth a small roll of the dice to see whether he can prove the surprise package of the race.

Green and always in rear on his debut at Southwell, Michael Appleby’s gelding looked like he was about to suffer a similar fate at the Yorkshire track last time out, but running on well in the closing stages, he came from an unlikely position to grab a never-nearer fifth at the line. Given that the time figure was extremely good – only just slower than the older horse handicap won by Desert Ace – the son of Showcasing clearly ran to a fairly high level on just his second start and although today’s ground conditions poses quite a few question marks, his price more than compensates for the risks attached.

A hugely competitive affair considering they are only racing for 7k and it looks race well within the capabilities of MISTY BLOOM (best price 4-1) based on her recent winning performance at Warwick.

In a race run at a sound gallop at the Midland venue, Emma Lavelle’s mare was noted travelling nicely in behind the speed and when asked to deliver a knockout blow after jumping the last, she found plenty for pressure to win going away. The interesting aspect about that display 16 days ago was the overall time and final circuit sectionals were much better compared to the 122-rated Bbold, who took the opening novices hurdle over the same C&D, so based on those findings, even a further hike up the ratings may not necessarily be enough to prevent the daughter of Yeats from going in again under ideal conditions.

DUKE OF CONDICOTE (best price 4-1) has shaped really well on his last two starts and he now could be ready to strike on handicap debut off what looks a workable mark.

Promising when keeping on well in the closing stages over a mile at Kempton two starts ago, Alan King’s colt went to Goodwood last time out relatively unfancied and although he failed to trouble the judge, he impressed by the way he finished off his race to snuggle just in behind the main players without being subject to anything like a hard ride. Although he may ultimately prove better suited by a sounder surface in time (all-weather pedigree), he at least proved that he can cope with a soft terrain at the Sussex venue and this big, strong athletic type rates an intriguing contender.

FACE OFF (best price 15-2) has run a good deal better than her finishing positions have suggested since winning over today’s C&D back in June and now returning back to the scene of that success, the four-year-old grey is fancied to rebound back to the top of the leaderboard.

Impressive on the clock with that victory at the Co Meath venue in mid-summer, the daughter of Mizzen Mast only narrowly failed to repeat the dose next time at the Curragh when the combination of a much tougher contest and a 62-day layoff proved her undoing. Badly drawn given the huge track bias to those racing up the stands’ side fence when down the field at Cork next time out, Charles O’Brien’s filly then had her stamina tested to the limit at the Curragh and back at Cork again last time, she once again got totally shafted by a low draw on the far side. That said, she still came out of the race with great credit by finishing a close-up fifth of the 20-strong field and with today’s rivals, largely speaking, looking a fairly exposed looking bunch, she should be capable of making her presence felt over a C&D that clearly suits.

ROYAL CANFORD (best price 13-2) absolutely whizzed home at the Curragh last time out and with the form already beginning to take shape thanks to the exploits of those in behind, Willie McCreery’s filly rates a fairly confident choice to follow up.

Having her fifteenth start at the Co Kildare venue, the Canford Cliffs filly was well-backed to finally deliver the goods and having jumped out sharply to assume command early, she managed a relentless gallop all the way to the line. In doing so, she posted a winning time only 0.27 seconds slower than the Group 3 won by Speak In Colours over the same C&D and with the runner-up, Miacomet, going on to score comfortable next time out, the form looks totally believable. Clearly well-suited by forcing tactics over sprinting trips rather than being asked to stretch out over a mile and beyond, the three-year-old should prove difficult to handle if in the same shape as she was 11 days ago.

DEINONYCHUS (NAP) (best price 11-4) once again proved his effectiveness over today’s C&D with a sparkling display here last week and under similar conditions, there’s no obvious reason to desert Michael Appleby’s gelding.

Extremely well-backed beforehand (10-1 into 11-2), the son of Authorised was noted going well just in behind the leaders as the field swept for home and with a darting run up the inside approaching the final furlong, his sustained challenge carried him over the top of the pace-setting favourite, Sendeed. Posting a solid overall time figure, the eight-year-old also recorded very smart backend sectionals on a similar level to both sprint handicaps on the same card and with heavy ground once again in his favour on his return visit, it would take a massive effort by one of his rivals or a total blowout on his part to prevent him from following up.