Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

It’s been hard to entertain a Sue Smith-trained runner with any great amount of confidence since the resumption, but there have been a few green shoots of recovery in the last week or so and that provides a little more comfort for those of us who fancy MIDNIGHT SHADOW (best price 11-1) to run a big race back at a track where he’s shown some of his best form in the past.

Winner of the Relkeel Hurdle here back in 2019, the son of Midnight Legend has proven himself equally effective over fences since and with his highlight coming over today’s C&D in the Dipper Novices’ Chase last season (probably would have finished second but for Champ falling two out), it’s easy to make a solid case out for him back in handicap company under similar conditions. Looking short of match fitness when down the field in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree following a 227-day break, the seven-year-old will hopefully be a different proposition this time around and with the form of his sixth in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase boosted by the likes of Tornado Flyer, Melon and Mister Fisher in recent days, his mark of 148 looks there for the exploiting.

ENTOUCAS (best price 7-2) has had the misfortune to bump into two of the best two-mile novice chasers seen out so far this season, so there’s every chance that Joseph O’Brien’s inmate will take advantage of his opening handicap mark of 138.

A smart hurdler, his defeat over the useful Fakiera his highlight, the son of Network has taken really well to fences and his opening effort behind the potentially top-class Unexcepted at Tipperary served notice he could easily make the grade in his new vocation. Given how strong the time figure was of his latest encounter behind Blackbow at Navan, he was by no means disgraced, and today’s contest likely to be run at a similarly string gallop, the six-year-old should have the requisite skills to cope.

ASK A HONEY BEE (best price 4-1) has shaped as though he requires a stiffer test than his encountered of his two starts and he’s strongly fancied to back up that theory over a track that should really play into his strengths.

Mid-division in last season’s Champion Bumper, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding has taken really well to hurdles and following a game victory over one of today’s main rivals, Ashtown Lad, at Wetherby on his debut, he’s narrowly failed to add to his tally twice since. Just done for pace by the useful Bobhopeornohope on good ground at Exeter, he once again found the conditions on the lively side when filling out the same position at Newcastle last time out, but given how strong he was at the finish 14 days ago, three miles on soft ground looks an area where his game is likely to be complimented.

Goshen is going to divide plenty of opinion among bookmakers and punters alike, but whichever side of the fence you may preside, he’s got to a point in the market where the layers will be licking their lips. As we all know, he was in the process of becoming one of the easiest winners of the Triumph Hurdle since Our Conor until disaster struck at the final hurdle and on that form, he has obvious claims of laying the ghost to rest back over the same C&D. Which ever way you strip it down, however, he has been a little disappointing on his two starts on the Flat recently – at odds of 2-5 and evens – and for those who may sense there could be a little chink in his armour, they will be quite happy to lay him at odds around the 7-4 mark.

Alternatively, value seekers now have a decent opportunity to prey on unexpectedly bigger odds about many proven performers at this level and the one who appears to have been completely overlooked for some inexplicable reason is BALLYANDY (best price 16-1). Although he might be rising ten, his recent exploits strongly suggest he’s not ready to draw his pension just yet and having finished runner-up in two of the best handicaps run so far this season, there’s no obvious reason why he won’t cover himself with glory yet again. The form of his effort behind Sceau Royal in the Welsh Champion Hurdle couldn’t have worked out any better with the winner, Buzz, Milkwood, Ecco and Mario Du Pail all either winning or going on to feature in quality events subsequently and there was nothing wrong with his valiant attempt to give the thick end of two stone to the rapidly-improving The Shunter in the Greatwood Hurdle over the Old Course here last time out. Runner-up in this race last year when the sprint down to the last off the back of a slightly pedestrian pace caught him out (only time he’s raced on the New Course), hopefully today’s likely better gallop will play more into his strengths and at 14-1, it would be somewhat of a surprise if he doesn’t provide his each-way supporters with a decent run for their money.

Of the fresh-faced brigade, SONG FOR SOMEONE (best price 5-1) arrives here right on top of his game and having taken the notable scalp of the ever-reliable Call Me Lord at Ascot last time out, he commands the utmost respect hailing from a stable who have their team clearly bursting with health.

Working his way through the ranks last season, he rounded off the campaign by showing enough tactical speed for Kempton’s sharp two miles in the re-routed Kingwell Hurdle and he’s continued progression if his latest display is a guide. Setting out to make all the running, he pressed on fully a mile out at the Berkshire venue and those aggressive tactics were enough to break the heart of his two markets rivals, both who had shown top-class form for many seasons. Clearly versatile regards trip, the one thing he does in spades is keep galloping and with today’s more demanding course likely to play into his strengths, the underrated son of Medicean can put his young handler even more firmly in the map.

MERHOOB (best price 8-1) showed a clear sign of a return to something like his best form with a strong finish at Chelmsford last time out and with tonight’s contest likely to set up perfectly for his style of racing, is John Ryan’s gelding fancied to show many of his younger rivals a thing or two.

Rated in the low 100’s when right on top of his game, the eight-year-old had dropped to a potentially lenient mark of 86 at the Essex venue and although he couldn’t quite take full advantage, there’s a decent chance he would have done had he received anything like a clear run down the straight. Likely to be towards the rear early on, expect him to be doing all his best work at the end and it’s just a question of whether the cards fall in his favour.