Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

COMMONSENSICAL (best price 11-4) may have disappointed a few at Chester last time out, but the tight contours of the Roodee on fast ground were always likely to catch out this big, robust galloping type and having been seen in a much better light the time before at Haydock on a softer surface, conditions look to have come just right for Tom Dascombe’s colt here this afternoon.

Although he didn’t run too badly 19 days ago, he always looked to be rowing against the tide trying to chase a nimbler type and he is better judged on his performance at the Merseyside venue a month earlier. Always to the fore in a race run at a sound clip, the son of Bated Breath only just succumbed to persistent challenge of the useful Fancy Man in the closing stages, but with the time figure good and his conqueror going on to finish second in a listed prize at Salisbury next time, the form looks solid (fourth home Titan Rock also scored at Goodwood). The only one of today’s sextet with any notable form on a soft surface prior to today, he’s fancied to press home that advantage and provide his Malpas handler with a much-needed winner.

SIR BUSKER (NAP) (best price 9-2) has raised his game to a whole new level this season and even though he has to go another notch higher to compete against genuine Group 2 performers, his current wellbeing and love for today’s track make him a very appealing proposition with so many doubts surrounding his opponents.

Right from the word go this term, William Knight’s gelding was intimating he was edging towards pattern level performances and his victory in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup wholeheartedly cemented that viewpoint. Just undone by a drop back to seven-furlongs in the Bunbury next time, the son of Sir Prancealot was a warm order to make amends in the Golden Mile here a month ago, but as it turned out, he never got the chance to justify his position as second favourite due to a desperate passage all the way down the home straight. Again in choppy waters at York last time out, the four-year-old was seemingly set an impossible task, turning for home with more in front that behind, but putting in a power-packed finish down the far side of the track, he only just failed to peg back the more prominently-ridden, Montather. Unsurprisingly, he ended up clocking the fastest split times for any horse on the seven-race card and now returning to the scene of a track where he has gone particularly well before, Sir Busker looks poised to claim several notable scalps.

FRONTISPIECE (best price 9-2) has run two brave races in defeat so far this season and he’s fancied to gain the break he deserves with ideal conditions in place.

A dual winner with some ease underfoot last season, Amanda Perrett’s gelding underwent surgery to try and clean up his wind during the winter and based on his endeavours since his return to action, the operation seems to have worked a treat. Runner-up to the smart and progressive Country at Newmarket on his first outing for 253-days, the son of Shamardal went on to fill out the same position behind the equally useful Rhythmic Intent at Newbury 13 days ago. Despite keeping on well in the closing stages at the Berkshire venue, he couldn’t quite match the pace of the winner late on, but he did manage to beat the rest by some margin and his effort also went some way to suggest he stays beyond 1m4f well enough. Having gone well on his only previous visit to today’s track on soft ground, there doesn’t appear any logical reason why the six-year-old won’t feature heavily in the final analysis.

A cracking listed contest containing several who have worked their way through the lower ranks to deserve a shot at a prize of this nature and of those with big aspirations for now and for the future, RED KELLY (best price 9-2) can prove he is more than just a top-quality handicapper.

Starting off his season in promising fashion at Leopardstown in arguably the best maiden run in Ireland since racing resumed, Johnny Murtagh’s colt took advantage of an extraordinary piece of leniency by the assessor when landing a handicap back at the same track off a mark of just 68. Raised a whopping 21lbs as a result of a seven-length demolition, the son of Manduro went to Down Royal to tackle the valuable Ulster Derby for his latest adventure and despite not having the race run to suit, he came through with flying colours to land some tidy bets. Although the overall time figure wasn’t great, strongly suggesting the pace was modest throughout, the fact he showed the necessary turn of foot to get the job done is testimony to his qualities and with all those who finished in behind that day going on to win or run well in similar races since, the logical move is to step him up to the sort of level where he belongs. A really likeable type with a splendid attitude and long stride to match, the flashy chestnut certainly doesn’t look out of place in this line-up and providing the rain-softened ground doesn’t hold him back in any way, he has the capabilities to go close in a race of this nature.

A big field assembled for the concluding handicap with several arriving here in good shape, none more so than EL TREN (best price 6-1) who has extremely persuasive claims on numerous lines of form.

A winner of a competitive 19-runner handicap at the Curragh last season, the pick of his performances, however, arguably came when he chased home the useful Sea Ducor over today’s C&D a month later. Handling the soft, autumnal ground extremely well that day, his effort in recording a useful speed figure took his course stats to an impressive 422 and following a creditable effort when a keeping-on third at Roscommon after a 300-day layoff recently, the son of Danehill Dancer has every chance of adding to his tally. In the money on each of his last six starts, with track, trip and ground in his favour, Aidan Howard’s nine-year-old rates a rock-solid each-way proposition and he should be played accordingly.