Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

TACTICAL MANOEUVRE (best price 9-4) really appreciated the switch back to hurdles and drop in trip at Exeter last time out and he’s fancied to repeat the dose at a track that has served him well in the past.

A winner over today’s C&D two years ago, he’d failed in 13 subsequent attempts to duplicate the feat, but following a mixed series of performances over fences, Jeremy Scott’s inmate clicked back into gear at the West Country venue 43 days ago. In a race run at a sound clip for the grade, the son of Marienbard’s stamina became the deciding factor in the latter stages when he just got the better of Bells Of Peterboro in a driving finish and with the runner-up going on to boost the form with a victory next time out, there’s every chance he will follow suit under his ideal conditions.

KNIGHT IN DUBAI (best price 11-4) has impressed with the manner of his two victories over fences so far to date and even though he faces an even sterner test amongst Grade 2 company, his speed figures suggest he should be well up to the task at hand.

A useful 138-rated hurdler, Dan Skelton’s gelding proved easily good enough to upset the odds-on Ballymoy at Bangor on chasing debut and he duly followed that up with another display of some panache at Doncaster last time out. The feature of both wins have been his fast, accurate jumping and with a likely forceful ride from the ever-pro-active Harry Skelton, the son of Dubai Destination could have his rivals in a spin before they swing for home.

The two progressive five-year-olds, The Bosses Oscar and Alfa Mix, predictably find themselves towards the head of the market following their recent winning performances, but KILFENORA best price 9-1) and COURT MAID (best price 14-1) have a good deal of upside in their own rights and at the morning odds, they are worth a couple of speculators against the field.

The former proved easily good enough to lower the colours of the supposedly well-treated Rock Du Baune at Naas last time out and that effort has to go down as one that carried a certain amount of class. Always traveling best, the son of Yeats won with more in hand than the official margin suggested and despite a deserved rise in the ratings subsequently, he might just have the necessary qualities to defy the assessor.

The latter doesn’t have the most consistent profiles of late, but that’s largely due to the fact Thomas Mullins’ mare has been mainly plying her trade in graded races and following a reasonable effort back in handicap company last time out, she might be able to bounce back to the sort of form that saw her win three off the reel last season. Although she could only manage a mid-division finish in the Pertemps Qualifier at the Lopeardstown over the Christmas period, that race at the Dublin venue was noted for its very fast final circuit time compared to the one achieved by Apples Jade, and considering she’s been off the track for 251-days previously, the daughter of Court Cave is expected to strip a good deal fitter this time around.

BOLD PLAN (NAP) (best price 3-1) scored in pretty taking fashion at Haydock last time and even though he takes on a decent class of opponent here this afternoon, it will still be disappointing if he weren’t good enough to maintain his progression.

Always highly regarded by his Llancarfan handler, Evan Williams’ gelding proved last season that he’s fully capable of holding his own in a big-field, competitive handicap when a creditable runner-up to the useful mud lark Poker Play on bottomless ground at Uttoxeter, so it was slightly disheartening to see him way below his best at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance. Heavily backed to make amends at the Merseyside track back in November, the six-year-old well and truly left that initial run behind him with an altogether more polished display and the way he quickened to make up a tremendous amount of ground on some very smart handicappers that day suggested he has a big engine. Indeed, his final circuit sectionals came out much better than the likes of Thebannerkingrebel and Stoney Mountain, the other two notable winners on the hurdle course 56 days ago, and with the second, third, fourth and fifth all going on to advertise the form next time out, it’s clearly a race that has worked out as well as the numbers suggested they might. At his best with plenty of ease underfoot over this intermediate trip, the son of Jeremy has the gears to leave this lot for dead.

HAPPY DIVA (best price 6-1) has been plying her trade at a high level to great effect over the last few seasons and this ultra-reliable mare receives the confident vote to put together yet another solid performance on the big stage.

A game winner of the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham back in November, Kerry lee’s mare was then pitched into listed company rather than return to Prestbury and tackle handicappers again in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and although that decision didn’t reap maximum rewards, her effort in finishing runner-up to the very smart Lady Buttons at Doncaster has to go down as one of her career best displays. Prior to chasing Cyrname’s shadow the last time she set foot on today’s track, the daughter of King’s Theatre had been success on her only other visit to the Berkshire venue and hailing from a stable who’s had two of their last three runners score, she looks certain to be involved in some way shape or form.

DUC DE GRISSAY (best price 15-2) has still to get off the mark in eight career starts, but he has shown enough ability since going under rules to indicate a race of this nature might well be within his compass.

Although beaten 16 lengths at Newcastle two starts ago, he was up against the likes of Prince Kayf, Imperial Alcazar and Espoir De Romay, all of whom went into that contest with solid form in good quality novice events. Well-backed in a weaker race on paper on his return to the Gosforth Park venue, Sandy Thompson’s gelding was unlucky once again to bump in to two above-average types who posted useful numbers for a race of that nature and with the handicapper somehow seeing fit to drop him in the ratings despite his excellent effort in third, he should be capable of being effective off an opening mark of 118 in this sphere.