Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

LOMU (best price 3-1) has improved out of all recognition since switching to new surroundings and following two impressive victories at Wolverhampton, Iain Jardine’s gelding is fancied to keep up the good work and complete the hat trick.

After totally losing his way midway through last season, the decision was made by connections to try something different and the change in scenery clearly had an instant impact based on his scintillating success at the Dunstall Park venue a month ago. The way he quickened up that day suggested the son of Dandy Man was a sprinter to follow and that theory was vindicated when he went and repeated the dose 17 days later. Despite not getting the clearest of runs, the six-year-old found the necessary turn of foot to get himself out of a hole and with his time figures pointing towards a horse currently at the peak of his powers, this big, bull of a beast is taken to translate his recent form to today’s stiffer track.

Quite a competitive maiden hurdle on paper with several already showing a fair degree of ability and KALOOKI (NAP) (best price 9-4) should be more than capable of holding his own on the basis of his fine effort on his seasonal reappearance at Warwick 61 days ago.

Returning to action after a 259-day break, Philip Hobbs’ gelding found himself a little outpaced as the tempo increased down the back straight down, but once he gathered his thoughts in the closing stages, he came home to good effect to finish a creditable fourth in a race that produced a decent speed figure. Moreover, he looks the type who will benefit from further and, with the first three home all going on to advertise the form since, the strapping son of Martaline can do his own bit for the race under similar ground conditions (was withdrawn from a recent engagement due to heavy ground).