Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

Both Subway Surf and Madam Deluxe are two very interesting recruits on their respective hurdling debuts, but WINTER GETAWAY (best price 6-1) has valuable experience to call upon already in this discipline and she rates a fair each-way alternative against the ‘big two’ in the market.

A decent third in a bumper that has worked out well subsequently, Philip Hobbs’ mare was well-fancied to make a winning debut over hurdles at Stratford last time out and after travelling well throughout, she delivered the goods in some style. Moreover, she posted a smart final lap time (best on the card) to coincide with a useful overall speed figure and, having proven that she stays really well over today’s trip and conditions, it’s hard to see her not going well again.

A trappy little handicap hurdle, but both GOLDEN SOVEREIGN (best price 7-2) and ACCORDINGTOGINO (best price 10-1) have done enough of late to suggest they can play a huge role in the final outcome.

The former hasn’t many miles on the clock and he shaped nicely on his seasonal reappearance at Exeter last time out. Although he couldn’t quite fend off the late challenge of As I See It at the West Country venue, the time figure of the race suggested he’d run up to a very high standard and providing he can handle today’s softer underfoot conditions, the son of Gold Well can take high rank in the hands of his promising conditional.

The latter caught the eye in what turned out to be a well-run affair over today’s C&D last time out and, shaping as though the run would do him good, he makes plenty of appeal with that all-important run under his belt. Having travelled throughout, a mistake two out rather dented his chances of staying in touch with the front pair, but he did keep on well enough for third and that has to go down as a fair return off the back of his seven-month layoff.

SCEPTICAL (NAP) (best price 11-8) shaped with an immense amount of promise on his debut over tonight’s course and he’s strongly fancied to turn around the tables with, My Excelsa, who is the more exposed of the pair.

Not fancied to make too much of an impact here 21 days ago, hence his 25-1 starting price, you could have stuck another nought on the son of Exceed And Excel’s chances after a few strides as he totally missed the break. Recovering to race just behind the speed at halfway, Denis Hogan’s inmate impressed how well he travelled into the contest after losing upwards of six lengths and, in sustaining his run all the way to the line, he did remarkably well to shoehorn his way in to the photo finish. A big, brute of a sprinter, who has loads of physical scope for improvement, hopefully today’s step up in trip plays into his advantage, and if so, he should have far too many guns for his old rival, who also has to contend with the coffin box 11 draw.

KATIYMANN (best price 9-2) has been knocking at the door of late and this proven all-weather specialist looks booked for another bold show based on his last three runs.

Second in a fair handicap over seven furlongs on the turf a month ago, Micky Halford’s gelding was fancied to go well on his return to his favourite surface 17 days later, but a bad draw followed by a poor start ruined any chance he may have had of justifying the support. He did, however, make up enough ground in the hottest part of the race to suggest the pot was just coming to the boil and that was realised with his run here last week. In a keenly-contest and well-run affair, the seven-year-old was noted going well just in behind the speed turning for home, but just as he was searching for room inside the final two furlongs, his path was continuingly blocked and he failed to get out into the clear in time. Finishing with the wind in his sails, the son of Shamardal can be marked up as a pretty unlucky loser and providing he receives a better rub of the green on his return visit, he should go close to getting off the mark for the winter.

The form of the London Middle Distance Series qualifier here on October 31 was well and truly advertised in the final by Good Tidings and Creationist yesterday and having run so well to finish a creditable seventh, EXCEEDING POWER (best price 11-1) makes plenty of appeal in this slightly weaker affair.

Handy from the start in what turned out to be an extremely strongly run contest, Martin Bosley’s inmate found himself short of room at a crucial stage down the straight and although he didn’t have the tactical speed to hold his position, he kept ion well to finish on the coattails of the main players once back out in the clear. A dual C&D winner of similar marks in the past, the son of Exceed And Excel looks overpriced based on the time figure he knocked out here 20 days ago.