Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

Charlie Longsdon has begun the season in fine form and one of his better chase prospects, DIGER DOUDAIE (best price 13-2), can keep up the good work for the Oxfordshire handler.

Fifth in a very hot maiden hurdle at Chepstow on his seasonal return last November, the son of Tiger Groom plied his trade against some fairly useful novices thereafter and once getting off the mark on his very next outing at Newcastle, he followed up that success with another noticeable performance at Uttoxeter on his final start of the campaign. Once again, he showed that granted a test of stamina he had the requisite answers and with today’s galloping chase course on soft ground seen as an ideal starting place for this strapping chasing type, he’s expected to go well before being a chief player in plenty of staying contest over fences throughout the rest of the season and beyond.

STRONG JOHNSON (best price 11-4) ran out an emphatic winner of a competitive maiden over today’s C&D last time out and having been handed a more than reasonable mark of 73 for his debut in handicap company, Kieran Cotter’s gelding can continue his progression.

Runner-up at a big price the time before at Down Royal when he almost defied a bad draw, the three-year-old duly went one place better here 14 days ago and with the time figure suggesting it was decent performance, he can be supported with confidence to repeat the dose under similar conditions.

It seems like every single time FACE OFF (best price 5-1) turns up at the races recently, she gets hit with a terrible drawn, but based on what went on here at the last meeting (most of the winners came down the nearside), today’s stall position towards the middle-to-nearside should end up being ideal and she’s taken to finally repeat her success over the C&D earlier in the campaign.

Impressive both visually and on the clock here back in June, Charles O’Brien’s filly has run better than the bare results have suggested on countless times since and after finishing best of those drawn low at both the Curragh and Cork previously, she once again came out best of those positioned on the unfavourable part of the track back at the Co Kildare venue 14 days ago. The way she finished off her race once meeting the rising ground very much pointed towards a filly who remains in tip-top shape and she makes loads of each-way appeal at her top morning odds with some firms offering five places.

MYRCELLA (best price 5-1) went through her latest encounter at the Curragh like the best horse in the race only to get undone by her low draw, but she showed more than enough to suggest it’s surely only a matter of time before the cards fall in her favour and today could well be the day.

Failing to stay the mile trip at Naas the time before, the daughter of Anjaal was dropped back down to a more realistic distance at the Co Kildare track 24 days ago and having swept to the front going well three out, she traded at a short price in-running until nutted right on the line by The King Of Kells, who had the luxury of racing up the favoured stands’ side fence. As far as the form goes, it was good to see her conqueror score in facile fashion back at the same track yesterday and with today’s stiff track over six-furlongs on soft ground her optimum conditions, the seven-raced maiden should go close to finally getting off the mark.

EL TREN (NAP) (best price 7/1) has been in cracking form of late and even though he has a few lengths to find with Aasleagh Dawn on their previous meeting, Aidan Howard’s gelding is fancied to turn the tables around with his old rival.

Arriving here back in September in reasonable form, while at the same time not exactly setting the world alight, the son of Danehill Dancer impressed by the way he went through what turned out to be a well-run affair and if it wasn’t for meeting a whole heap of trouble when trying to challenge up the inside rail, he may have well obliged. Making no mistake two starts later at the Curragh with an easy win over a decent field, the eight-year-old would have almost certainly followed up but for having his path blocked while going best of all at Thurles last time, and even with the handicapper taking the same view by raising him the ratings without winning, he still should go close to offsetting that impost given his current wellbeing.

The draw could have been kinder to LADY PHYLLIS (best price 9-1), but she did show the sort of ability at Chelmsford last time out that she might have a squeak overcoming such an impost and she’s worth chancing at the morning prices.

Slowly away and outpaced on debut at Lingfield back in August, Michael Attwater’s filly wasn’t so effective on the turf next time at Bath, but back on an all-weather surface at the Essex track a month ago, she produced arguably her best display. Once again taken off her feet early, the daughter of Coach House picked up nicely down the home straight to finish on the coat tails of several smart types such as Electric Ladyland and Raahy and with the time figure good and the third, fifth and sixth all running well since, the form looks reasonably reliable. Sure to be suited by an extra furlong based on what we’ve seen of her so far, the lightly-raced two-year-old has showed enough ability to suggest a mark of 59 is workable and if she gets dropped in and given a chance to come with a late run from her high draw, she can easily outstrip her odds. Of the rest, Fair Sabre also caught the eye with the way she finished off her race here last time and she rates an interesting contender too.