Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Not a vintage bet365 Gold Cup by any means and it’s a race well within the capabilities of GOLAN FORTUNE (best price 10-1) on the pick of his best form.

Thought good enough to contest Grade 1 company at Kempton over the Christmas period, Phil Middleton’s gelding acquitted himself with distinction that day by finishing just behind the likes of Shan Blue and The Big Breakaway and it was a similar story next time out up against smart pair Next Destination and Fiddlerontheroof. Aimed for the Midlands Grand National next, the son of Golan could never get competitive after being held up towards the rear of the field, but at least that spin gave him some sort of insight of what to expect here this afternoon. Hopefully, the nine-year-old will receive a more positive ride here this afternoon and the greatest respect to who has been riding him in the past. The jockey booking of Scottish National hero Tom Scudamore, has to been seen as a massive plus in a bid to try and get his mount engaged. 

IOWA (best price 7-2) only beat a handful home on his seasonal bow at Leopardstown, but that finishing position doesn’t tell the whole story, and he’s strongly fancied to show he true capabilities this time around over a trip that should play into his strengths based on his page. 

Heading into that competitive contest at the Dublin venue following a 164-day break, Aidan O’Brien’s was held up towards the back of the field after a slow beginning and that meant he had a sea of horses ahead of him as he turned for home. Unable to make any discernible in roads towards the main players inside the final two furlongs, he did, however, stay on in quite eye-catching fashion to only get beaten five lengths at the line and considering he did all his late work without ever coming out of third gear, his performance deserves hugely upgrading. Being by Galileo, he’s likely to appreciate today’s extra half a mile and considering he was only a 9-2 chance to score over seven furlongs and in a bigger field 10 days ago, odds of a similar nature seem more than fair looking at today’s opposition. 

We’ve got little to go on as far as L’HOMME PRESSE (best price 8-1) is concerned, but there was a good deal to like about the way he disposed of the useful Getaway Luv on his UK debut at Chepstow last time out and this unexposed novice could turn out to be the surprise package of the concluding race to the jumps season.

Just twice raced for previous connections in France, Venetia Williams’ gelding was very much an unknown quantity when he faced up to what appeared to be a formidable opponent at the Welsh track two weeks ago but he came away from the contest having left an indelible mark. Well off the solid pace set by the 2-7 favourite, the son of Diamond Boy got there travelling easily on the approach to two out and even though he walked through the flight of hurdles and, at the last for good measure, he still powered clear for an impressive 28 length victory. A difficult one for the handicapper to assess in many ways, but based on the way he went through the race, his overall time figure and closing sectionals, plus the fact he was entered in a Class 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham the following week, it could well be that the six-year-old has done quite well to come away from that race with an opening mark of 132. Likely to appreciate today’s extra half a mile based on the way he finished off his race last time, a big run is anticipated if he can just iron out those little novice errors that crept into his game late on last time.

Not a particularly strong race on paper and it’s one FAIRMAC (best price 6-4) looks to have a fair chance of capturing based on his performance here last time out.

Looking badly in need of the run at Lingfield following a 118-day break previously, Mark Johnston’s gelding was quietly fancied improve on that initial outing despite being raised in class and that proved to be the case as the grey kept on well for pressure to finish a close-up third. Shaping as though he may require further than 1m2f to be seen at his best, the son of Lethal Force is sent up in trip in pursuit of his second career win and providing he’s given a patient ride, in-keeping with how most winners are handled at this galloping track, there’s every chance he will oblige racing in a class two notches down from last time out. 
 

It’s been a little while between drinks as far as MR COCO BEAN (best price 11-4) is concerned, but there were much more encouraging signs from David Barron’s gelding at Redcar last time out and because the time of the race in question was so good for the grade, he’s afforded another chance to prove he’s got what it takes. 

Winless since 2019, the seven-year-old has run several decent races in defeat since and even though he failed to trouble the judge at the Yorkshire venue 12 days ago, his effort was by far away his best for quite some time. In a race run at a blistering gallop from the start, the son of Gio Ponti just couldn’t find the extra necessary reserves to close down the main players after being well behind at halfway, but it still has to go down as a useful effort in the context of what he’d previously be achieving. Although he’s up a grade here today, he does face many rivals whose best form have all come on the all-weather and having run well on his two previous visits to the Merseyside track, another positive show looks on the cards.