Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

REBEL ROYAL (best price 4-1) and Sammy Bill are incredibly difficult to split, both being very progressive novices’ who posted useful speed figures on their chasing debuts, but at the prices, slight preference goes in favour of the former on the basis it’s hard to see him being out of the frame with a clear round.

Slightly disappointing on first three starts since leaving Dan Skelton, the son of Getaway proved a totally different proposition on his first outing over fences at Huntingdon two months ago when, jumping and travelling well throughout, he readily pulled clear of a competitive field. In clocking a very useful overall time and final lap sectionals (eight seconds quicker than the other chase on the same card), Alan King’s gelding marked himself down as a young chaser worth keeping on side and in the hope that today’s conditions remain suitable for his quick action (has missed a few engagements due to soft ground), he’s fancied to continue his progression. Of his main threat Sammy Bill, he also impressed on the clock with his chase debut success at Kempton (third won since) and it would come as no surprise if he were bang on the scene too.

Being positioned handily certainly wasn’t a negative based on the three hurdle races here yesterday and in anticipation of a fairly positive ride from GO WHATEVER (best price 6-1), Chris Gordon’s gelding can utilise any track bias to its full capacity. A promising third in a race working out well at Lingfield two starts ago, the son of Gold Well was heavily-supported to land a novice event at Plumpton last time out and under an aggressive ride from the front, he found loads for pressure to land the gamble. A lazy type who takes a bit of driving to keep him honest, the five-year-old might be tricky to overtake under conditions that make it difficult to come from off the speed.

KILLARO BOY (best price 9-1) went with great zest for nine tenths of the 3m1f journey here last time out and with the hope that natural exuberance he displayed can be utilised to the full dropping back half a mile, Henry Oliver’s gelding can provide his relatively small yard with a big payday.

Formerly with Adrian Murray in Ireland, the 10-year-old was purposely bought for hunter chases, but following his opening success in that sphere, the decision was made to pitch him back into handicap company to see if he could still cut the mustard at a higher level. Cutting out most of the running in the Bet365 Summer Cup back in June, the son of Mr Dinos was agonisingly touched off in the dying strides by the useful Brave Eagle, but that performance certainly justified connections’ bold strategy to play against the big boys. Similarly nailed late on by the strong-staying Burtons Well over the Mildmay course here on his seasonal reappearance, he jumped and travelled like a horse that might be suited by slightly shorter and providing he can get into a decent early rhythm, he has enough quality to piece together a significant challenge.