Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

ALFA MIX (best price 11-2) showed improved form when accounting for a useful type at Tramore last time out and on the evidence of that display, he looks ready for something a little tastier.

A four-year-old that has clearly taken a while to come to hand, his first positive vibes came two starts ago at Roscommon when he finished a creditable fourth in a well-run affair and he didn’t need any second invitation to piece it all together at the Co Waterford venue last time. Staying on very strongly late on, Gavin Cromwell’s scopey gelding really relished the testing conditions on offer that day and with the ground likely to be pretty similar 30 days on, he has the potential to cause a few headaches for several from big, powerful yards.

Ability to act on very testing ground is obviously going to count for plenty here today and POKER PLAY (best price 4-1), a confirmed mud lark, will be in his element more than most and he rates the value call in what should turn out to be an informative affair.

Seen to really good effect under such conditions when landing an ultra-competitive handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on Midland Grand National Day last March, David Pipe’s gelding translated that level of form on his second outing over fences at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance. Jumping well throughout, the son of Martaline always seemed in the lower gear to everything else and the cosy five-length victory was backed up by a very impressive speed figure. Moreover, the runner-up that day, Sensulano, has gone on to endorse the form at Fontwell next time out and having run well on his last visit to today’s track over hurdles, the six-year-old has brighter prospect than his morning odds imply.

There’s no doubt West Approach has the ability to win one of these, but whether he has the inclination is another matter and he’s passed over in favour of the more reliable RAMSES DES TEILLEE (best price 11-4).

Unlucky not to win the Welsh National last year when a bad blunder at the final ditch cost him dear, David Pipe’s charge presumably has that contest high on the agenda again, and he got his campaign off to the perfect start by landing a novices’ hurdle over today’s course at the last meeting. Always in control that day, the seven-year-old seemed to enjoy being allowed to dictate matter from the front and under similar tactics on his return to fences, this heavy ground-loving gelding can stake a claim for bigger prizes further down the line.

One that shouldn’t be completely dismissed either is RELENTLESS DREAMER (best price 10-1) and he makes more appeal than his price suggests. Pulled up abruptly after making a bad mistake early on at Ascot on his latest outing (unsighted going in to the fence), Rebecca Curtis’ gelding had previously only gone down by nine lengths to the subsequent Charlie Hall Chase hero, Ballyoptic, in a well-run contest at Chepstow. Prior to that first-class effort, he’d landed a big-field handicap chase over today’s course in game fashion almost a year to the day, and a repeat of that level of form would give him more than a fighting chance.

BIG BAD BEAR (NAP) (best price 7-4) created a favourable impression when a keeping-on third at Aintree on his hurdling debut and he’s fancied to hold his own against some similarly promising types if building on that initial performance.

A winner on his fourth start in a bumper following three previous placed efforts, Nicky Richards’ five-year-old found the strong pace on his first attempt over timber a culture shock in the early exchanges at the Merseyside track, but once he gathered his second wind turning for home, he finished his race to really good effect. Going on strongly at the line, the son of Jeremy gave out the sort of signals to suggest he would thrive on an even greater test and with conditions at today’s track likely to place a big emphasis on stamina, he’s given a big thumbs up to come up trumps.

SHOW STEALER (best price 14-1) arrives here in terrific heart thanks to a cosy win at Kempton last time out and even though the official figures suggest she has a little to find with some of the main players, she may have the necessary weapons to cause a bit of an upset.

A creditable fourth in the Ayr Silver Cup, Rae Guest’s inmate was surprisingly sent off one of the outsiders at the Surrey venue 10 days ago, but showing a smart turn of foot in the closing stages, she readily belied her market insecurity. Indeed, her final three furlong split of 33.5 made her one of the very horses who’ve managed to go below the golden 34.0 marker at the track in recent times and, providing she can break well and hold a decent position around the inside from her favourable number one draw, the daughter of Showcasing’s turn of foot should give her a fighting chance down the straight.