Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

An intriguing contest which might have some bearing on future events, but as for today, LATEST EXHIBITION (best price 7-2) makes the most appeal of those bidding to take advantage of the non-participation of Envoi Allen.

The apple of his trainer’s eye, Paul Nolan’s gelding arrives here on the back of a gritty display when seeing off the challenge of market leader Andy Dufresne in a Grade 2 at Navan last time out and considering he made a dreadful blunder at the middle hurdle down the back straight, his performance was even more meritorious. Good enough to finish within three lengths of Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite, Abracadabra, over two miles the time before, and yet have the stamina for further, the son of Oscar should come into his own over today’s trip and he looks the one most likely to run his race of those down the front end of the market.

Willie Mullins has no fewer than four representatives in this Grade 1 2m1f contest, but all of them will have to be on their A-game to contend with new kid on the block in this division, A PLUS TARD (best price 7-2).

Winner of last season’s Close Brothers Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Henry De Bromhead’s inmate actually wound up the campaign contesting the big three-mile novice chase at Punchestown a month later. Although he ran with great credit at the Co Kildare venue, the son of Kapgarde begin this term over a mile shorter, and having shaped as though the minimum trip might be an area worth pursuing, he was kept at two miles for his latest encounter over this weekend’s C&D. In a race run at a true gallop from the outset, the six-year-old’s stamina came to the fore in the latter stages when he found more for pressure on the run-in than market leader Chacun Pour Soi, and with the numbers suggesting he’d run to a career-high level, it makes sense for him to stay in the same lane for the foreseeable future. Even accounting for his old rival improving for the initial outing, there seems to be too big a discrepancy between their respective prices, and at top price 7-2, we recommend this likeable and genuine chaser is worth a decent crack to confirm the form and set himself up nicely for a tilt at the Champion Chase in a month’s time.

As one would expect for the money on offer, a competitive line-up to face the starter, and both SNUGSBOROUGH HALL (best price 6-1) and BATCIO (best price 7-1) have the right sort of profiles to suggest they are likely to take a hand with a clear round.

The former had a nice spin over hurdles when finishing a creditable fourth at Cork last time out and considering that effort came following a 247-day break, there’s every reason to believe a good deal of improvement will be forthcoming. A big improver over fences last term, Liam Cusack’s gelding rounded off his campaign with a smooth success in a well-run affair at the Punchestown Festival and if he’s somewhere near than level of form here this afternoon, this strong-travelling type should play a significant role.

The latter seems to be going the right way over fences on the evidence of his last two starts and following a victory at odds-on at Clonmel two months ago, he turned in an even better display over today’s C&D last time out. Noted travelling well in behind the speed, Ted Walsh’s grey looked like he was going to scoop the pot on the run down to the last only to find the rallying Drumconnor Lad just too strong on the run-in. That said, that performance indicated the eight-year-old is totally at home in well-run, big-field handicap over today’s demanding course and with conditions a little drier than what they were 37 days ago, the son of Montmartre can take advantage of what still appears to be a fair handicap mark.

CRACKING DESTINY (NAP) (best price 5-1) is progressing nicely and as he’s one of the few runners with genuine C&D form to his name, he might well be up to staking his claim in today’s better company. Having his first run for new connections after a 228-day break, the son of Dubai Destination took an instant likely to today’s sharp track when scoring with plenty on hand and although he was beaten when upped in trip and grade last time out, he still left the impression he’s a horse going in the right direction. Travelling best throughout until his stamina gave way over 2m4f, and with the drop back to the minimum trip tied in with what should be a strongly-run affair thanls to Locker Room Talk and Ardera Cross being in the field, Alistair Whillans’ gelding has seemingly plenty in his favour.

BOLD PLAN (best price 8-1) only got as far as the third in his quest to build on his previous impressive victory at Haydock, but providing all is well after that unexpected tumble, the son of Jeremy can continue the terrific current run of his yard.

Badly in need of the run when down the field in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his seasonal return, Evan Williams’ inmate was well-backed to take a huge step forward at the Merseyside venue next time and he duly delivered the goods with a performance of some merit. Coming from way off the pace, the six-year-old exhibited a useful turn of foot for the conditions to score going away and with several of those in behind that day going on to boost the form since, it was easy to see why he was heavily punted the next day. Although he’s yet to race beyond 2m4f, he should give himself every chance of getting the trip because he settles well and, with him also being a former point-to-point winner on heavy ground, there’s plenty of cause for optimism on all fronts.

Willie Mullins’ sets a poser here running the unexposed Unexcepted on just his third career start, but based on his time figures so far to date he’s going to need to improve significantly to make an impact and preference is for another of his representatives in the shape of TIGER TAP TAP (best price 9-1).

Just short of top-class as a juvenile, the four-year-old chestnut has seemingly matured immensely over the last year and his two victories either side of the Christmas period strongly suggest he’s feeling good about life. Silky-smooth when accounting for a field that contained the likes of subsequent winners Home By The Lee and Jazzaway at Naas two starts ago, the Jukebox Jury gelding went on to make light work of three rivals at Clonmel last time out. Although both of those two wins have come over trips beyond two miles, he does have some smart form over the minimum trip last season and with two of those notable runs coming over today’s C&D (only just got beaten by the ill-fated Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Erec) he should be capable of going close off an opening handicap mark of 136.

DUBLIN FOUR (best price 10-1) has racked up a sequence of fine placed efforts in recent times and with Graeme McPherson’s gelding being the only runner in today’s line-up with proven course form at a fairly high level, he’s fancied to give another good account.

A 33-1 chance when he shipped up at the Esher track back in November, the son of Arakan defied his position in the market by finishing a respectable fourth behind Keen On and with the winner and the runner-up, Protektorat, enhancing the credentials of the race subsequently, a run to a similar level would be good enough on its own to see him figure prominently on his return visit. Moreover, his runs behind two useful types in the shape of Flamboyant Joyaux and Elvis Mail since also read well in the context of today’s race and off a mark of 119, he makes plenty of each-way appeal at his morning price.