Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Time may tell SIT DOWN LUCY (best price 5-1) bumped into a very smart horse in the shape of Impervious at Down Royal last time out, and a repeat of that performance 15 days ago is likely to see Peter Fahey’s mare easily outrun her morning odds.

Only rated 113 going into that Grade 3 contest at the Co Down venue, the daughter of Doyen travelled as well as anything heading down to the second last and although she ultimately proved no match for the winner in the closing stages, she still managed to pull well clear of the rest, strongly suggesting she’d run way beyond a horse of that level. Clearly benefitting both the first-time hood and drop back down in trip, two miles and today’s going just on the easy side of good should prove ideal and in a race where you can pick holes in several of the leading players she makes more appeal than most in her bid to cause a bit of an upset.

Trainer Sam Thomas has come a long way in a short space of time and the Glamorgan handler appears to have been handed a golden opportunity of landing his biggest prize so far to date by inheriting the already established course specialist AL DANCER (best price 6-1).

Other than one poor run in the 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the son of Al Namix has a pretty useful record around Prestbury Park – particularly over today’s old course – and his performance when third in this race last season to Cool Cody only further advertised his love affair with the track. Although he kept on well enough up the hill that day, he left the impression the heavy rain which fell in the build up to the race did him few favours and with a relatively dry day forecast for the area today, there shouldn’t be too many excuses regards underfoot conditions. Another huge positive surrounding his chances comes from the fact he has an amazing record fresh as on the four occasions he’s raced after a layoff of 60 days or more, he’s yet to suffer a defeat. How much he will improve for the benefit of changing stables recently only time will tell, but either way, it will difficult to imagine he’ll go backwards now in the capable hands of a trainer who appears to be doing really well with the better quality of horses at his disposal. Ridden by one of the best big-race chase jockeys around Cheltenham in the shape of Sam Twiston-Davies, the eight-year-old grey looks to be about as solid an each-way bet as you will find in a race of this nature – especially with so many firms offering generous place terms – and for that reason, he should be played accordingly.

Of the rest, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if last year’s winner, Coole Cody, were to go well again, as we know he loves the track and had a lovely spin to blow away the cobwebs around here at the last meeting. Based on the numbers of that strongly-run hurdle, Evan Williams’ 10-year-old appears as good as ever and with the fourth horse home, Art Approval, advertising the strength of the form here yesterday, his record on the Old Course of 1212 could be further enhanced.

Fergal O’Brien has a fair record in this race over the years, winning it once back in 2013 and also having multiple placed horses since, and the pick of his trio in this season renewal could well turn out to be LEADING THEATRE (best price 8-1), who puts her unbeaten record in bumpers on the line.

Promising in a couple of Irish points, the daughter of Leading Light was strongly fancied to make a winning start for new connections at Worcester back in June and under a confident Paddy Brennan ride, she duly justified 2-1 favouritism. Sent back to the Midland venue to contest a more competitive field, the five-year-old was once again ridden with plenty of restraint in the rear and just as she’d done a month previously, she came through with a barnstorming late run to win going away. Looking at the time figure she produced 109 days ago, it’s clear she thrives on a strongly-run environment and with there being the potential of reasonable amount of pace on in today’s contest, this substantially-built mare should prove to be in her element more than most.