Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

GAZETTE BOURGEOISE (best price 10-1) has been running pretty well against some very useful mares’ this season and her levels of consistency are due to rewarded again in the final of this series for which she qualified with one of her best efforts last time out.

In what turned out to be a well-run affair at Market Rasen a month ago, Ben Case’s mare was hard on the speed throughout and hanging touch all the way till half way up the run-in, she only caved in to two strong finishers close home. Moreover, it may have been a different story had she not drifted over onto the swamp on the inside of the track and with the race in question already beginning to work out well based on how the winner and third have performed this week, confidence is high the daughter of Spanish Moon can follow suit.

Identifying horses that might have a bright future is part of the fun in the early stages of the Flat season and one who fits neatly into that category is TORNADIC (best price 9-2), who makes his eagerly-awaited return to action in this competitive little affair.

Nothing flash on the figures when winning his first two starts, ironically, the son of Toronado produced his best number in defeat on his final outing of the season when staying on strongly from the back of the field in a tightly-knit nursery at Kempton. Really catching the eye with how he finished off his race that day, today’s long straight should allow him plenty of time to find his long stride, so providing he can negotiate the top bend okay and turn for home in a reasonable striking position, he should end up being a big player at the business end.

As ever, a viciously competitive EBF Final but with his proven track form in the bag, FOLCANO (best price 5-1) is expected to go close and in some way make up for his unfortunate incident at the Cheltenham festival last time out.

Strongly-fancied in the boys’ race at Prestbury Park courtesy of a solid-looking profile, Denise Foster’s gelding got no further than the very first hurdle 15 days ago, so it’s a classic case of him having seek compensation elsewhere. Prior to his untimely exit that day, the son of Falco had shown a high level of ability in some useful novice hurdles and with two of his best efforts coming over today’s Co Meath venue, it’s hoped those previous visits will stand him in good stead back here today. Runner-up to the smart Flanking Manoeuvre here back in January, the six-year-old displayed good battling qualities to fend off his rivals when returning to the scene of that performance a month later and with today’s drying ground likely to suit him a good deal better than the testing conditions he’s been facing so far this term, confidence is high he can bow out for the season on a high.

Some big players with a good deal of potential taking to the floor for this concluding bumper but based on his performance on the clock at Leopardstown last time out, MEET AND GREET (best price 18-1) has nothing to fear.

Only mildly promising on his first two starts this season. Oliver McKiernan’s gelding has improved immeasurably since racing on better ground and following a narrow defeat in big field at Punchestown (finished strongly), he finally gained his due rewards with a gutsy victory last time out. In what turned out to be a strongly-run affair at the Dublin venue, the son of Mustameet picked up the running half a mile from home and from that point onwards he had to dig deep to fend off a whole host of challengers. Once the dust had settled, connections mooted that a tilt at the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown was on the cards, so if he’s to meet that sort of lofty engagement, he’d have to go very close to winning today for that target to become a possibility.

POPE GREGORY (best price 11-4) has done precious little wrong since joining new connections and following a much-deserved success over tonight’s C&D last time out, James Unett’s gelding rates a fair bet to repeat the dose.

A dual winner on the all-weather for Mick Channon last season, the son of Gregorian made a bright start for his new team when finishing a creditable runner-up on his first outing at the Dunstall Park venue following an 86-day break and that run prompted the necessary improvement just a month later. In what turned out to be a well-run affair 14 days ago, the four-year-old stayed on really strongly in the latter stages to get up close home and with the time figure good and third home winning since, the form looks decent enough for another victory to be forthcoming if running to the same standard.