Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

LORD ACCORD (best price 9-4) created a favourable impression when making a successful chase debut at Uttoxeter and even though today’s contest looks just as tough on paper, Neil Mulholland’s gelding is fancied to put his experience to good use. 

A smart 130-rated handicapper over hurdles, the former Irish pointer has always been regarded as a potentially useful chaser and on the evidence of his first attempt, connections look bang on the money with their assessments. Always close up at the Midland venue, the son of Yeats momentarily lost his place coming out of the back straight but in a strong late rally inside the final quarter-mile, he quickly assumed command again close home to score going away. Time-wise, the race 26 days ago was a really strong one for the grade and with form working out well with the likes of Ask A Honey Bee, Kiltealy Bridge and No Comment either winning or being placed since hope is high Lord Accord can keep the ball rolling over a track and trip that looks likely to suit. 

GOOBINATOR (NAP) (best price 15-8) has rather lost his way over hurdles after looking a fair prospect as a juvenile, but Donald McCain’s gelding has since sprung back to life courtesy of several decent efforts on the Flat of late and if he can translate the ability shown in his last three outings, he has every chance of capturing a race of this nature. 

Progressive and seemingly enjoying the winter game, a nasty fall at the last at Musselburgh appeared to affect his confidence thereafter and although there’s been the odd spark, he’s never quite been the same force. However, since switching codes and fitted with a hood, the son of Noble Mission has really resurrected his career and following back-to-back victories at Haydock and York, he was pitched into the white-hot heat of the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last time out. In what turned out to be a brutal encounter for the 32 competitors due to the very strong pace, the five-year-old was only one of few handful who could keep up the relentless pace until the business end and although he ended up getting beaten 11 lengths back in fourth, his performance based on the clock was easily a career-high. Even at this early stage, the form of the race has been well advertised by the likes of Calling The Wind and Land Of Winter to name but two, and with today’s race likely to be run at a far more sedate pace than what he’s been used to of late, the chestnut gelding will be very much in his comfort zone for what is ostensibly a home fixture.

NOBLE MASQUERADE (best price 9-4) only failed by the narrowest of margins to make in two wins in as many starts at tonight’s venue here last time out, but he looks to have been presenting with a decent chance of making amends and at the morning prices, he makes far more appeal than his main market rival, Candleford. 

Enjoying a productive summer until a couple of uncharacteristically modest runs by his standards threatened to undo all the good work, Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding return to something close to his best in the final of the London Middle Distance Series over a furlong shorter than tonight’s trip a week ago. In a race which produced a solid time figure, the four-year-old kept on strongly all the way to the line to get within a neck of the more prominently ridden Marching Army and if he wasn’t short of room in the closing stages, he may have come away with the main prize. Taking his track stats to 411 that evening, the son of Sir Percy will appreciate tonight’s extra yardage and with either Here And Now or Galata Bridge likely to take the field along at a sound clip, the race should tee up nicely for this consistent and likeable performer.