Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

The nursery won by OUTGATE (best price 5-1) at Haydock a month ago was noted for its smart speed figure and with the winner and third, EXMINSTER (best price 3-1) both having strong-looking claims based on their level of performance that day, the pair are taken against the field.

The former had run quite well in a competitive nursery at York previously, so he certainly wasn’t winning out of turn at the Merseyside venue, but the manner of his victory probably even caught connections by surprise. The way he cruised up to the leaders before showing a smart turn of foot to get away from the field was very eye-catching and his winning time figure backed up the visual impression on the performance. On all known evidence seven furlongs appears to be his trip and providing he can handle the dip and slightly easier ground today’s course has to offer, he has all the attributes to make it three wins in five starts.

The latter very much caught the eye in that well-run affair 27 days ago and he simply has to go on the shortlist as a result. Shuffled to the rear early as a result of being bumped in the first few strides, Edward Bethell’s colt found himself in an uncompromising position turning for home, but in charging home the strongest down the outside of the track in the latter stages, he managed to rescue a degree of compensation from what had to be considered a bit of a mess. Given the way he finished off his race, it’s easy to see today’s stiffer test playing more into his strengths and it would come as little surprise if he were to turn the tables on his old rival. 

EXCELERATOR EXPRESS (best price 5-1) won with any amount in hand on his latest adventure at Worcester two months ago and even allowing for another rise in the ratings and today’s assignment being officially tougher on paper, Neil Mulholland’s gelding can prove equal to the task. 

The son of Poliglote has always been a pretty consistent horse but he seems to have found a new level of improvement since stepped up in distance and his victory at the midland venue highlighted his current form and rise up the ladder. Always travelling strongly 52 days ago, the seven-year-old cruised up to the leaders two out and from the point onwards, he went easily clear of his toiling rivals without being asked a serious question. How much he had left in the locker is anyone’s guess, but either way, it’s clear a well-run race over three miles brings about the best in him and with today’s good ground also essential to his levels of performance, another bold bid looks on the cards.

There’s no denying that the quality of the action has gone up several notches at Chepstow in the last few days but, as there is plenty of guesswork involved as far as fitness is concerned, punters maybe best served just employing a watching brief with most races. However, Fergal O’Brien is one trainer how can be relied upon to get his horses in reasonable order after a layoff and in the shape of PAINT THE DREAM (best price 10-1), a horse who goes well fresh anyway, the Withington handler can bag at least one winner on this star-studded card.

A useful hurdler, the seven-year-old has undoubtedly scaled even greater heights over fences and his second season yielded many solid and commendable efforts which included a taking victory over the likes of Dickie Diver, Demachine and Severano in a well-contest affair at Newbury. Third in a Grade 1 at Sandown on his final start of the campaign, he returns to action off a feasible mark and having already proven his suitably to galloping tracks such as today’s, the son of Brian Boru rates more than just a hopeful pick. 

Willie Mullins’ has made this race his own in recent times and with six runners in this year’s line-up, all of which holding strong-looking claims on the pick of their best form, it would come as no surprise if the Closutton maestro were to add another one to the role of honour. However, it wasn’t so long ago that Nicky Henderson knew a thing or two about preparing one for the 2m2f stamina test and in the shape of BUZZ (best price 9-1), the Seven Barrows handler looks to have a very likely contender. 

Last seen on the Flat when trained by Hughie Morrsion, the seven-year-old grey has seen his career take off since switching his attentions to hurdles and he’s developed into a bone fide top-class performer since working his way through some of the tougher, more competitive handicaps. A creditable fifth off top weight in the valuable Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury last February, connections decided to roll the dice in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle two months later and despite being one of the outsiders at 22-1, he produced a career-high performance by chasing home the smart Abacadabras. Now rated 155 over hurdles as a result of that tremendous effort, the son of Motivator revisits the scene of his last run on the level off a potentially lenient mark and having also been handed a significantly better draw than some of his main markets rivals, he rates a must for any shortlist. 

BEDOUIN’S STORY (NAP) (best price 9-2) was a shock 40-1 winner of the Cambridgeshire over the very same C&D here last time out, but there didn’t appear to be any fluke about the result and with the time figure that day putting him right there with some of the supposed classier types, Saeed Bin Suroor’s gelding can go close to pulling off his second giant-killing act. 

Running reasonably well without hitting the ball out of the park in his three previous races, it was easy to see why he was one of the outsiders in the 26-strong field, but after travelling noticeable well throughout, he defied his position in the market with some aplomb. Once meeting the rising ground, he bounded to the front and the way he hit the line strongly suggested there could be more to come. With several strong front runners in today’s field, expect the classy six-year-old to be delivered to a nicety late on by Frankie.