Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

ALIGNAK (best price 3-1) looked to have it all to do on paper when upped massively in grade at Haydock last time out, but if it wasn’t for the late thrust of Trueshan in the dying strides he would have justified being pitched into pattern company for the first time and he’s fancied to continue his progression now fully established in this grade.

A dual winner on the all-weather off marks in the 80’s, Sir Michael Stoute’s colt was bumped up to a rating of 96 by the handicapper, but it still came as something of a surprise to see him kiss goodbye to that sphere and be asked to run against several who were proven at Group 2 level. More than holding hid won at the Merseyside track, the four-year-old grey readily brushed aside the Godolphin pair Mountain Hunter (rated 108) and Ipsolini (112), and it looked like he’d also got the better of Alan King’s progressive stayer until the photo revealed otherwise. Still, a narrow margin defeat of horse destined for great things for the foreseeable future has to go down as a sterling effort under the circumstances and with today’s track, trip and ground all in his favour, the son of Sea The Moon has everything in place to run his usual brave and honest race.

A cracking handicap that would grace any of the big premier festivals during the Flat season and the two that makes the most appeal over today’s trip are BABY ZEUS (best price 7-1) and WINNER TAKES ITALL (best price 8-1).

The former easily has the best form lines coming here having been heavily involved in two of the strongest three-year-old middle-distance handicap run so far in Ireland, so it’s just a question of whether he can translate the same level of form on to an all-weather surface. Fourth in a well-run and ultra-competitive affair at Navan on his seasonal reappearance, Ger Lyon’s gelding ended up being in even choppier waters at Down Royal last time when he contested the Ulster Derby against some massive progressive performers from the same age group. Although he was unable to go with the front pair in the closing stages at the Lisburn venue, he did keep on well enough to finish a very creditable third and with the likes of Sunchart, Aesop, Springbank and Marchons Ensemble all boosting the form since, it’s easy to be extremely excited by his chances here today based on what he achieved 22 days ago.

The latter ended up letting his supporters down at the Curragh last time out, but he was a little unfortunate with how the race panned out and he thoroughly deserves another chance. A smooth winner on a decent time figure at Gowran previously, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding was extremely well-backed to follow up at the Co Kildare venue a month later, but he ended up getting too far back in what turned out to a bit of a tactical affair and he couldn’t quite make the sort of impact expected beforehand. Much better served by stronger and more even fractions, hopefully today’s race will be run at a much more suitable tempo and if so, the son of Nathanial has all the right attributes to make his presence felt.

NEW CHAPTER (best price 5-2) created quite a favourable impressive when getting off the mark at the third time of asking at Ayr last time out and with his opening mark of 79 appearing to be more than fair,

William Haggas’ colt is fancied to take full advantage over a track which should play into his strengths. 
Catching the eye in two maidens over a mile, the son of Invincible Spirit was stepped up in trip for his latest encounter at the Scottish venue and despite making a bit of a meal of getting the job done, he ultimately ran out a far more comfortable winner than the official winning margin of a neck implied. Quickening up nicely to get himself out of a potentially uncompromising position at the furlong pole when he got stuck in behind his main market rival Bellatrixa, the three-year-old colt left the impression he would be even better suited by a more galloping track and stronger pace, and with those wishes likely to be granted on Town Moor here this evening, this likeable and improving sort can step up another gear if dropped in and given a patient ride from his outside draw.

GAS MONKEY (best price 7-2) was undeniably unlucky to bump into the ridiculously well-treated Blue Cap at Sandown last time out, but he still beat the rest by a clear-cut margin and with nothing of the same calibre in today’s field, Julia Fielden’s gelding can register course win number three. 

Noted going well and holding every chance three out at the Esher track, the son of Cityscape was ultimately swept aside by the eventual winner who will surely go on to much better things, but as the time figure revealed, the race in question turned out to be easily the best furlong-per-furlong on the eight-race card, so it at least proved that he’s returning to something like his very best form. Arguably better suited by today’s trip than the 1m2f he encountered 23 days ago, the five-year-old also won’t mind the ease in the ground the track offers today courtesy of the rain in the area during the last few days, so it should just boil down to a case of whether his inexperienced pilot has the requisite skills in the saddle to get the job done. 

PENNY OUT (NAP) (best price 15-8) finally got her just rewards for a series of solid efforts in competitive handicaps over tonight’s course two days ago and she looks a mare well worth keeping on side while clearly in the rudest of health. 

Unlucky not to shed her maiden tag at Galway previously, the daughter of Salutino arrived here the other night with plenty of belief she could lower the colours of the well-backed My Sister Sarah in what looked a match of paper, and as it turned out, she never gave her supporters a moments worry. Always travelling well, John Kiely’s mare quickened in impressive fashion coming out of the dip on the home bend and then once meeting the rising ground she left her main market rival for dead. Clocking a useful time into the bargain, the six-year-old mare is brought out quickly in order to make full use of her current wellbeing and being the only C&D winner in the field, she’s strongly fancied to put her valuable track knowledge to full use.