Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

IRISH ROE (best price 5-1) excels over today’s course and following a solid run in an ultra-competitive heat at Haydock last time out, the eight-year-old mare should give another solid account in her bid to win this race for the second time (runner-up last year).

Entitled to need the run following a 190-day break, the daughter of Vinnie Roe kept on well enough in the closing stages despite not having the pace to go with the main players from two out, but given that those ahead of her were knocking out some pretty spectacular finishing sectionals, her performance reads better than it may seem on paper. Looking back at some of her efforts on Town Moor over the years, she’s finished placed to the likes of Maria’s Benefit and Lady Buttons in Grade 2 contests over the C&D and with those runs adding up make her overall form figures here read 11223, Peter Atkinson’s mare looks a very tempting each-way proposition with the dead eight runners set to go to post.

BRELAN D’AS (best price 9-2) ran to a career high when runner-up in the Betvictor Gold Cup over the Old Course here a month ago and a repeat of that level of form should see Paul Nicholls’ mercurial character bang on the scene on his return visit.

For one so talented, his win-to-run ratio could be better, but he seems to be a more reliable performer of late and that excellent effort here a month ago couldn’t be faulted as he ran hard all the way up the hill to go down on his shield behind the very tough and classy mare, Happy Diva. A solid fifth behind subsequent Festival hero Siruh Du Lac on trails day last January was followed by another superb effort in the Grand Annual two months later and these runs all add up to convince the doubters that he has what it takes on the big stage.

Whether any of these prove good enough to win at the Festival next year is a moot point, but up to now, both CHAMPAGNE WELL (best price 7-2) and REDFORD ROAD (best price 9-1) have done enough to suggest they can hold their own at this sort of level and they are worth playing against the field.

The former has already proven that the stiff nature of today’s (Old) course suits him well with a victory and runner-up spot already this season and that latest effort here a month ago has to go down as the singular best piece of form coming into the contest. Although no match for the very smart Thyme Hill on the run-in, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding kept on well to fend off the rest up the hill and hailing from a yard that continues to churn out winners on a regular basis from their new base, there’s no reason why he won’t figure prominently.

Granted, the latter has a bit to find with his Ascot conqueror, Valtor, but today’s another day and it wasn’t as if he was beaten far at the Berkshire venue. Impressing by the way he stuck to the task at hand when all seemed lost on the home turn is testimony to his tenacity and with today’s stiffer track and extra yardage threatening to suit the five-year-old’s stamina even more, he looks set to outrun his odds.

Nicky Henderson is very well represented here with Dame De Compagnie and Lust For Glory high on the shortlist, but there’s also persuasive claims to be made in the direction of both INDEFATIGABLE (best price 8-1) and MEGA YEATS (best price 8-1) and at the prices they are worth playing against the field with some firms offering five places.

The former has worked her way through the ranks to be a genuine quality mare worthy of the big stage and that was proven with her creditable fifth-place finish in the mares’ novices’ contest at the Festival in March. Rounding off her season with a resounding success over today’s C&D, Paul Webber’s mare returned to action in the ultra-competitive Silver Trophy at Chepstow a month ago and having looked one of the likeliest winners two out, lack of a recent outing took its toll and she eventually faded into fifth. Outpaced by the classy Lady Buttons in a listed contest since, the daughter of Schiaparelli reverts back into handicap company off a workable mark and providing she can eradicate some of the errors which crept into her game at Weterby last time out, she has a sporting chance of defying top weight.

The latter represents a stable just beginning to flourish in recent weeks and Ruth Jefferson’s mare looks set to keep up the good work. Running over three miles for the first time on her seasonal reappearance at Haydock recently, the daughter of Yeats didn’t quite see out the trip in the closing stages of a well-run affair, but she certainly went through the contest like she retained all her ability from last season. Back over her optimum distance and having run well in a listed bumper here before, the five-year-old mare has sound credentials.

STORM AHEAD (NAP) (best price 11-2) remains in good heart and there’s no obvious reason why Tim Easterby’s gelding won’t go well again over a C&D that clearly suits.

Third on his first outing at the Dunstall Park venue back in October, the son of Iffraaj didn’t have to wait too long before he found his stride on the tapeta surface as he scored readily under tonight’s pilot a month later. Clocking a good time into the bargain, the six-year-old was well-fancied to follow up that smooth success on his return visit, but unfortunately, despite looking the most likely winner two furlongs out (may have hit the front too soon), he just got nailed in the dying strides by the fast-finishing International Law. Providing he breaks well, tonight’s inside draw should allow him to save ground around the paintwork, and he rates the percentage each-way call at the morning odds.