Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

ROCK DE BAUNE (best price 3-1) has been plying his trade at a pretty high level in some ultra-competitive handicaps on the Flat of late so, with fitness on his side and what appears a favourable mark to play with on his return to hurdles, John Kiely’s inmate receives the confident vote.

A convincing winner of a strongly-run 1m6f event at the Listowel Festival back in September, the son of Saddex was well-backed to follow up in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh last time out and although he couldn’t cope with the easy winner that day, Royal Illusion, he still took some notable scalps in finishing a creditable third. Good enough to finish a close-up fifth in the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown on his penultimate start over hurdles last December, a repeat of that level of form should him hugely competitive off today’s similar mark over what should turn out to be his optimum trip.

SKANDIBURG (best price 3-1) left the impression he was a bit unlucky not to make a winning seasonal return at Market Rasen 21 days ago and he’s fancied to back up that view hailing from an in-form yard.

A useful novice in his first season over hurdles, his only modest run came when he finished in mid-division in the EBF Final at Sandown, but other than that, Olly Murphy’s gelding was a model of consistency. Making his seasonal reappearance at the Lincolnshire venue off the back of a 190-day break, the son of Sageburg might well have won that day had he not fluffed his lines at the last, but given the way he stayed on strongly on the run-in strongly after losing crucial ground momentum suggested he retains all his ability and with today’s trip threatening to bring about further improvement, he’s fancied to take high rank.

BALLY CONOR (best price 4-1) must have given connections some serious headaches last season, but before we all turn grey following this horse, surely he will prove that his current handicap mark of just 119 is nowhere near his true level of ability.

A winner of an Ayr bumper on rules debut this time last year, Ruth Jefferson’s gelding ran another decent race under a penalty at Newcastle before it was decided that he was ready to embark on his eagerly-awaited career over hurdles. Too keen to do himself justice on his first attempt at Market Rasen, the son of Presenting produced a career-best performance next time out at Newcastle when chasing home the very smart Imperial Aura, who is now rated 136. Sent off even money to back up that excellent effort back at the same track on his final start of the campaign, the frustration of what can be only described as a lamentable display was tangible (was found to be lame post-race) and it’s hoped that he can prove that run all wrong in due course. Besides the positives, there are a couple of negatives than prevent a total wallet-crunching bet, namely his potentially weak jumping technique (hopefully that will improve) and his yard hasn’t had a winner for 161 days, but either way, this scopey six-year-old deserves to be watched with due diligence until proven otherwise, so just a small interest is advised on this occasion.

WADACRE GALOUBET (best price 2-1) clocked the best time of the three round-track races here last time out and having clearly taken extremely well to tonight’s deep surface, there’s every chance he can repeat the dose up against a field of exposed-looking rivals.

Promising without setting the world alight in five previous starts, Mark Johnston’s was relatively easy to back on his fibresand bow 11 days ago, but having travelled nicely just off the speed for majority of the journey, he stayed on in game fashion late on to bely his market unrest. Only slightly tweaked in the ratings because of his narrow success, the son of Born To Sea, therefore, gets another chance to run against a similar standard of opponent and, if his figures are to be believed, he’s going to take plenty of stopping if running to the same level.

Bo Samraan arrives here in great nick and has to be respected, but he will do well to cope with GRAZEON ROY (NAP) (best price 7-5) who has the all-important experience under his belt courtesy of his impressive C&D win here 11 days ago.

Racing on the fibresand surface for the first time, John Quinn’s gelding was noted travelled well throughout and then when asked to go and seal the deal late on, he readily pulled clear of his eight rivals. Clocking a fair time for the grade into the bargain, the three-year-old chestnut seemed to really relish the stamina test that this track provides and with the potential of even more to come from this tall, rangy individual, it would be slightly disappointing if he couldn’t take advantage of all the positives in his direction.