Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

There appears to be several viable candidates for this ultra-competitive 1m2f handicap, but none have more compelling credentials than CARADOC (best price 6-1) and he’s strongly fancied to play a significant role in a race which looks tailor made for his run style.

Ed Walker’s gelding progressed at a rapid rate of knots last season and following three victories in handicap company, he ended up contesting a listed prize on the all-weather at Lingfield. Sent off a warm 6-4 at the Surrey venue, the son of Camelot ran uncharacteristically below par after receiving a far-from suitable ride and it was at that point stumps were drawn on his campaign. Off for 231 days in the interim, the five-year-old was back in handicap company at Epsom on Derby Day and having been ridden quietly out the back door, he made what can only be described as eye-catching late progress in the latter stages. Not given a hard time in any way at the Surrey track, he should benefit greatly from that initial outing and having run well in an extremely strongly-run handicap over 1m4f here last season, he has the combination of mile-and-a-quarter speed and stamina for further to make his qualities count. The improving pair Fifth Position and Harrovian rate the chief threats.

TRIGGERED (best price 9-1) has strongly suggested a race of this nature is well within his compass on both his starts so far this season and he rates a reasonably confident choice to make his presence felt in what looks a wide-open contest.

Slow away from a bad draw at Haydock on his first outing for new connections a month ago, Mark Loughnane’s gelding did remarkably well to finish a close-up fourth considering how much ground he had to make up from halfway. Handed the same coffin box draw in stall one in a similar heat at Doncaster last time, the son of Dandy Man once again came home in the sort of fashion that screamed out he would have been a much bigger factor had he been allowed to compete on a level playing field and he now gets a chance to prove that theory correct housed smack bang in the middle of the bunch here today.

SONNYBOYLISTON (NAP) (best price 10-3) couldn’t quite deliver the goods when well-backed at Navan last time out, but at the same time, he did more than enough to suggest he’s still a gelding worth keeping on side despite his revised rating and another big performance looks on the cards.

In keeping with many of his stable’s runner this season, Johnny Murtagh’s inmate proved an instant hit in his first handicap when scooting up at Gowran on his seasonal reappearance and it was a display that the assessor saw fit to raise him a whooping 16lb in the ratings. Whether he deserved such a hike is a moot point, but to be fair to the handicapper, his next effort in a much more classier contest proved that he was somewhere in the right ball park as the son of Power kept on well to finish a creditable third to the much-improved Delphi at the Co Meath venue 15 days ago. Indeed, the winner has gone on to boost the form/time figure in no uncertain terms with a easy success in a pattern contest at Leopardstown next time, so without suggesting for one minute this progressive three-year-old is in that class just yet, he’s more than capable of holding his own in this sort of grade for the time being. Hopefully the forecast rain will arrive at the Co Kildare venue, thus increasing his chances ten-fold, and if ridden positively like his was on his seasonal reappearance, the lightly-raced chestnut will prove very difficult to beat.

TOMMY TAYLOR (best price 14-1) isn’t the most prolific of performers, as just two wins in 36 starts testifies, but at the same time, he’s more than capable of holding his own in this sort of company and as far as an each-way bet is concerned, he’s about as concrete as you will find in a race of this nature.

A consistent, if slightly frustrating sort when trained by Kevin Ryan in the UK, the son of Mizzen Mast has continued to pay his way in ultra-competitive handicaps without managing to get his head in front and his latest effort at the Curragh epitomised his general plight. Held up towards the rear, Johnny Levin’s gelding stayed on strongest off those drawn towards the stands’ side rail and even though he managed to finish miles ahead of all his counterparts on the same part of the track, there ended up being two others who benefitted greatly from being better positioned next to the speed far side. Although that effort 21 days ago was over seven furlongs, the six-year-old has run equally well over six on many occasions in the past – including a well-run affair at Dundalk during the winter – and with the likelihood of his side of the track being the place to be courtesy of Bungee Jump being in the line-up (stall 8), he should get the perfect tow into the business end of the race.

DINARD ROSE (best price 20-1) didn’t quite have enough class to go with several who are likely to be plying their trade in a higher grade in future when last seen over today’s course, but as this contest doesn’t have anything of that nature within its midst, Noel Meade’s mare should be capable of giving a good account.

Winner of the Ulster Cesarewitch at Down Royal last season, the daughter of Champs Elysees went on to have fairly productive time over hurdles during the winter and even though she wasn’t quite up to Grade 3 standard on her penultimate outing at Fairyhouse, the fact she earned the right to run in such company was testimony to her overall progression. Back on the Flat after a 133-day layoff, the four-year-old filly was pitched into the white-hot heat of a top-class handicap over today’s course last time out and even though she failed to trouble the judge, she did keep on pleasingly enough to offer positive signs for the future. Time figure-wise, the race in question 20 days ago was about as good as it gets for the grade and with the third home, Lynwood Gold, advertising the form back at the same track here last week, there’s more than a fair chance Dinard Rose can follow suit – especially if the forecast rain materialises.

At time of writing, the going at Haydock today was predicted to be good-to-soft, but if the forecast is correct, conditions are likely to get a little more testing as the day progresses and that scenario should ensure ALTERNATIVE FACT (best price 5-1) is once again in his element.

A winner on his final start last season at Newmarket on soft ground, Ed Dunlop’s gelding hit the mark again under similar conditions over today’s C&D 14 days ago, a performance which backed up his previous two above-average displays. Noted going well turning for home at the Merseyside venue, the son of Dalakhani showed a nice change of gear that enabled him to scamper his way clear of the field in a short space of time and although the pack ended up eroding some of his advantage close home, he always looked in control. An eye-catcher here earlier in the season in a race which has worked out well since, the five-year-old clearly loves this afternoon’s course and even off his revised mark, he still should turn out to be ultra-competitive.