Andy Holding's Boxing Day Racing Tips

MILLERS BANK (NAP) (best price 3-1) found a nice bit of improvement off his seasonal debut in order for him to capture his first race at Bangor last time out and with the time figure pointing towards the performance being one of a pretty useful standard, Alex Hales’ gelding rates a strong choice to take care of a similar field.

A former point runner-up, the son of Passing Glance unsurprisingly found the speedier Falco Blitz too sharp for him around the tight Fakenham course first time over hurdles, but given a much stiffer test at the Welsh track 26 days ago, he proved a totally different proposition to his eight rivals. Setting out to make it a true gallop, the five-year-old gradually sucked the life out of his opposition on the final circuit and, with the runner-up, Northofthewall, going on to prove how strong the form is next time out, he’s confidently expected to keep up the good recent run of his local handler.

VENTURA DRAGON (best price 11-2) was unlucky to bump into the well-treated Pemberley in a hot novices’ handicap at Hereford last time out, but despite the lurking presence of recent winners Just Call Me Al and Theflickeringlight in the line-up, Oliver Sherwood’s gelding is still fancied to hold his own.

A three-time winner on the Flat for Richard Fahey, the son of Dragon Pulse has yet to get off the mark in five starts over hurdles, but there’s no doubt he’s improving with each start and it’s significant that his best performance of the pile came over the furthest trip he’s encountered. Today’s distance, therefore, should prove to be equally helpful and he rates a fair each-way proposition under similar conditions he faced 29 days ago.

Aspire Tower is undoubtedly one of the best juveniles we’ve seen out so far this season in Ireland and he thoroughly deserves his place at the head of the market, but there is a small hope that WOLF PRINCE (best price 12-1) may find the necessary improvement to bridge the gap of his defeat at the hands of Henry De Bromhead’s performer at Punchestown.

The race in question at the Co Kildare venue was run at a proper gallop and the winner did more than enough to justify his lofty pre-race reputation, but Gavin Cromwell’s inmate certainly wasn’t totally disgraced and he went on to show the benefits from that opening gambit with an altogether more professional and polished display at Fairyhouse last time out. Always travelling supremely well at the Co Meath venue, the son of Pour Moi revelled in the heavy underfoot conditions to score with a ton in hand and with today’s ground set to become a little more testing providing the forecast in correct, he appeals as the value each-way bet in the race around the 12-1 mark.

DOLLYS DESTINATION (best price 10-1) scored in the style of a rapidly-improving mare at Navan last time out and despite the handicapper doing his level best to intervene, Gary McGill’s inmate is fancied to shrug aside top weight.

Dropped right out of the back of the field at the Co Meath venue, the daughter of Dubai Destination still appeared to have plenty on her plate as the runners turned for home, but making rapid ground approaching the last, she worked herself into a reasonable challenging position before bounding clear on the run-in. Given her level of superiority over such a competitive field, it’s almost impossible to know how much she had in hand, but the one thing we can say for sure is she clearly has a very smart turn of foot when in top gear. Moreover, the fourth and seventh that day have both gone on to boost the form subsequently and with her ability to handle testing ground now proven, the six-year-old mare has more in favour than her morning odds imply.

Quite a few possibilities in this competitive novices’ handicap chase, but there’s a good chance that FINDUSATGORCOMBE (best price 10-1) will run his race again on his return visit to his local course and he makes the most appeal at the morning odds.

A game winner of a similar contest at Exeter the time before, Jimmy Frost’s inmate quietly-fancied to hold his own in a much hotter race over today’s C&D last time out and so it proved, as he mixed it with the main players until coming up a little short in the final analysis. That said, his close-up fourth place finish still reads well in context of all his other previous achievements and with that performance taking his career record over today’s chase course to form figures of 2124, the Tobougg gelding is likely to play a leading role at the foot of the handicap.

Nicky Henderson holds a very strong hand here having the first three in the betting within his care, but that won’t bother SILVER STREAK (best price 11-1), who’s used to playing the underdog, and he can once again prove that he well and truly belongs in this grade.

A surprise 80-1 third in last season’s Champion Hurdle, Evan Williams’ inmate has done plenty to enhance his reputation in both starts so far this season and with the first of those performance coming courtesy of a smooth victory over today’s C&D, he proved that he’s just at home on a sharp track than he is on a galloping, demanding course such as Cheltenham. Not as suited by the way the race panned out in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last time out, the six-year-old grey still kept on well enough to suggest he remains right on top of his game and with a good gallop on fairly testing ground (forecast rain) set to improve his chances no end, the likeable and consistent gelding appeals as a strong each-way pick outside the main players.

HONEST VIC (best price 10-1) can be a bit of tricky customer, but there’s no denying his talent when he consents to put his best foot forward and, following a positive display in a hot contest at Haydock last time out, another solid run should be forthcoming if he can run to a similar level.

A game winner first time out this season at Market Rasen (runner-up Skandiburg won since), Henry Daly’s gelding was well-backed to repeat the dose at Haydock last time out, but unfortunately he got outpaced at a crucial stage at the Merseyside track and he could only manage a never-nearer fourth. That said, that effort still presents a decent level of form in context of today’s test and with most of his best performances coming via a right-handed track, the son of Kalanisi should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least if he runs to somewhere near his best.