Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

TOUT EST PERMIS (best price 4-1) was a creditable third in this race last season, so we know he goes well fresh, but with his year in unstoppable form at present, Noel Meade’s gelding might just be capable of bettering that finishing position on his return to the Co Kildare venue. 

Smart under both disciplines, the seven-year-old largely raced over hurdles last season with connections seeking to take advantage of his favourable mark and they were rewarded with the son of Linda’s Lad finishing an honourable third in the Pertemps Final. A strict interpretation of that form suggests he has a bit to find with today’s favourite, The Storyteller, but as his old rival hasn’t always looked the most fluent of his fences in recent times, it could allow the likeable grey to bridge the gap. Either way, at the morning prices, he’s worth a small interest.

Other than a fall over today’s course two starts ago, MY SCRUMPY (best price 13-2) has a pretty impressive record over hurdles and with a profile which suggests he also goes well fresh, Jedd O’Keeffe’s gelding can add to his already consistent profile.

Yet to finish out of the frame in all eight completed starts, the son of Passing Glance added to that tally when scoring on his first outing over today’s course at the Charlie Hall meeting and he didn’t have to wait too long before he was successful again, ending the campaign with another notable victory at Newcastle. On each of those two wins, the six-year-old hasn’t lacked for stamina, so it’s with a good deal of confidence rather than hope that the he’s offered up as the selection over a track that clearly suits.

LORNA COLE (best price 5-1) came from a seemingly impossible position to score over today’s C&D last time out and with a much better draw this evening, William Muir’s in-form filly has a great opportunity to repeat the dose. Dropped out by design due to her poor stall position in gate 11, the daughter of Lethal Force was still stone bonking last as the field turned for home, but in producing a storming finish up the far side rail, she left her ten rivals for dead in a pretty short space of time. Clocking a smart set of figures to boot, the four-year-old grey underlined her own personal wellbeing and now connections have inadvertently stumbled across the best way to utilise her strengths, similar tactics can hopefully reap maximum rewards. 

ALMUFTI (best price 7-2) probably isn’t one for maximum stakes, but at the same time he has far too much talent to completely ignore and in any case, his effort here last week was far to encouraging to not make him of significant interest in tonight similar heat on his return visit. 

Held up in a race which turned into a test of speed, Hugo Palmer’s gelding couldn’t quite make up enough ground in the closing stages to get to eventual winner, Light And Dark, but he did more than enough to suggest he’s not a million miles away from getting his due rewards for a consistent level of form in some of these big handicaps. Better over a mile, hopefully he gets the rub of the green on his return to the Sunbury venue, and if so, he certainly has enough ability to make a big impact.