Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

PEMBERLEY (best price 4-1) scored in the style of a well-treated horse at Hereford last time out and with today’s step up in trip set to potentially bring about extra improvement, Emma Lavelle’s gelding looks the likeliest winner in a race seemingly short on quality by the track standards.

Reportedly badly in need of his first outing of the season at Exeter after a 243-day break, the son of Darsi was extremely well-supported at the Midland venue three weeks later and the money proved to be spot on as he stayed on strongly to claim the spoils late on. Winning with his ears pricked, the lightly-raced six-year-old also posted a useful speed figure for the grade and, with his ability to handle testing ground assured, he can continue his fine run form for his stable.

MAID IN MANHATTAN (best price 8-1) looks to have a mountain to climb based on pure numbers, but she does handle testing conditions really well, so there’s an outside chance she can be competitive in her stiffest task to date.

A multiple winner on the Flat this season, two of which came on heavy ground, Rebecca Menzies’ mare reverted to hurdles after a 59-day break at Wetherby last time out and she ended up running a stormer against some promising types over the furthest she’s ever encountered. Held up towards the rear, the five-year-old made up a huge amount of ground to hold every chance approaching the last, but following a sloppy leap, she couldn’t quite maintain the gallop as well as the useful Young Bull on the run to the line and she had to settle for an honourable second. That said, she still ended up posting the best circuit time of all the competitors on the hurdles track that day and it wouldn’t come as the biggest shock in the world if she were to seriously punch above her weight.

LIKE AN OPEN BOOK (best price 16-1) did really well to finish as close as she did here last time out following a shuddering early blunder (fourth flight) and she’s afforded another chance to maintain her fine record at today’s track.

A detached last with a circuit to race thanks to that mistake, the nine-year-old mare actually looked momentarily dangerous on the run to two out here 44 days ago, but the exertions of trying make up all that lost ground in the hottest part of the race eventually took its toll. With that effort, her form figures at today’s venue now reads 4133F5 and having finished ahead of the favourite, Scheu Time, behind The King Of Brega on merit in this race twelve months, it makes little sense why she’s been chalked up four times the price of her old rival.

Several of these have questions to ask but the same can’t be said about LORD DU MESNIL (best price 11-2) who arrives here in great form following a game victory over a decent bunch of novices at Newcastle last time out.

Jumping out to make all at the Gosforth Park track, the son of Saint Des Saints looked like he was going to get swallowed up when the smooth-traveling Sam’s Adventure loomed large alongside him on the run to the last, but following another solid leap when he needed it most, he stayed on with more determination to see off his main market rival. Seemingly a solid jumper with a decent cruising speed, Richard Hobson’s charge has the prominent run style that often suits horses of his type around here and he rates the value call down the foot of the handicap.

JERRYSBACK (best price 6-1) was always likely to be struggle over 2m6f on good ground after a break at Newbury last time out, and so it proved, but now back under more suitable conditions that will ensure this contest will be a proper test. Philip Hobbs’ gelding can strike back to form.

Having his first run since running a blinder in the 4m National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival 263 days’ prior, the seven-year-old went perfectly well until lack of peak fitness took its toll on the home turn and he was eventually eased to finish a well-beaten twelfth of the 16-strong field. Runner-up to Vindication on his only previous visit to the Berkshire venue, the son of Jeremy must have a great chance off a similar mark if running to that level and there’s no reason to suggest he won’t now he’s had that initial outing to blow away the cobwebs.

QUOI DE NEUF (best price 13-2) has run two smashing races against top company so far this term and he looks booked to go well again with conditions very much in his favour.

Probably not at maximum capacity on his seasonal return at Chepstow, he still managed to finish a creditable second to Speed Company in a decent time figure and that set him up nicely for a tilt at the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham a month ago. Well-backed beforehand, Evan Williams’ inmate impressed with the way he went through the strongly-run affair, but unfortunately he was allowed to drift on to the soup up the un-favoured part of the course and that ultimately meant he was just worried out of a place. Hopefully connections will walk the track and try and plot a course where they race on the less chewed up ground this time, and if so, there’s every chance that the five-year-old will deliver the goods.