Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

TOMERIC (best price 11-2) more than deserved his victory at Roscommon last time out after a string of solid placed efforts and he’s fancied to continue the good work off what appears to be a fair opening mark in handicap company.

Runner-up at both Kilbeggan and Sligo on good ground in mid-summer, there had to be some concern as to whether Eric McNamara’s gelding would be cut out for a much softer surface at the Lenebane venue 16 days ago, but he overcame those worries with flying colours as he stayed on very strongly to get the better of the well-fancied pair Arthur Fonzarelli and Fou Diligence late on. The interesting point to make looking deeper into the nuts and bolts of that maiden hurdle was it run in a time two seconds quicker than the mares race won by Well Set Up and considering she was the only one to go with Listen Dear in a listed race at Limerick on Sunday, it clearly wasn’t a bad effort on the part of the son of Style Vendome based on the pure numbers. Now versatile regards ground conditions, the four-year-old won’t mind either way whether it rains or not and at 5-1, he makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Anyone with a modicum of knowledge can tell you that Quel Destin is a good thing here based on his hurdling exploits so the most interesting aspect of this race will be the battle for the runner-up berth and LAND OF WINTER W/O QUEL DESTIN (best price 9-4) makes the most appeal as the one likely to chase home the favourite.

Following a couple of decent performance on soft ground during the summer, Rae Guest’s gelding finally got off the mark at the eighth time of asking when landing a 1m6f handicap Southwell back in August. Having run out an 11-length winner that day, it was no surprise to see him a short-priced favourite to follow up, but those that forced the son of Camelot into odds-on hadn’t accounted for Blowing Dixie, who produced a tremendous speed figure for the grade to lower the colours of the favourite. That said, it was still a fair effort by a three-year-old still on the improve and having proven that a test of stamina that suits and soft ground holds no fears, he should be good enough to take care of the rest of the opposition.

An intriguing little puzzle involving many household names in this division and while the official ratings suggest Balko Des Flos has a bit in hand, TOUT EST PERMIS (best price 10-3) is given the vote on account of his proven stamina over the trip and decent record when fresh.

Useful without being any world beater when trained by Mouse Morris, the six-year-old grey showed improved form on his first start for new stable at Galway this time last year and considering that effort came off the back of a 174-day break, it was a notable step in the right direction. Well-backed to repeat the does in the valuable and competitive Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan next time out, Noel Meade’s charge proved equal to the task and he duly went on to complete the hat trick in a Grade 2 at Thurles, again off the back of a layoff. Not quite seeing out the 3m5f journey in the Irish Grand National on his final start to the campaign, the Linda’s Lad gelding should find today’s optimum trip more to his liking and hailing from a yard in cracking form of late, he can gain the bragging rights for the Gigginstown Stud set-up.