Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Gordon Elliott has plundered this prize twice in the last three years, so it’s a race he clearly targets with a certain type, and the one who fits the bill out of his trip of representatives is BUDDY RICH (best price 7-2).

A model of consistency throughout the Autumn period, the eight-year-old finally got rewarded for a series of fine placed efforts when defeating the very smart Ballyadam at Navan last time out and it was a performance that strongly suggested he’s a bit better than his current rating of 138. Runner-up to one of the best novice chasers we’ve seen so far this season in the shape of Third Time Lucki at Cheltenham previously, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar has a body of work over fences which suggests he should more than hold his own in handicap company and with fewer convictions than most, he makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.

MARBLE SANDS (best price 3-1) left the impression he really ought to have won last time out - the odd sloppy jump here and there costing him dear – and he’s fancied to back up that view on his second start over hurdles at a track which should play more into his strengths.

A surprise winner of a good-looking bumper at Ascot last season, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding was well-fancied to make a winning start over hurdles and although he went close to accomplishing that feat, it was a case of the one that got away. A bit novicey early on, the son of Martaline gradually warmed up as the race began to take shape but just as he was about to challenge at the last flight, he made his most notable error at a crucial point and handed the advantage back to the eventual winner, Milan Bridge.

RATTLE OWL (best price 3-1) had to be considered an unlucky loser at Wetherby last time out and providing he can avoid mishap here this afternoon, he’s likely to be serious contender in his bid to gain compensation. A winner of two novice hurdles, including a smooth performance at Sedgefield in a decent time figure on his seasonal bow, Jedd O’Keeffe’s gelding proved a popular choice in the pre-race markets at the Yorkshire venue on Charlie Hall day, but just as he looked likely to justify the gamble, disaster struck at the second last. Whether he would have won for certain can be argued, but given the way he was still travelling, it would have taken a good one to beat him, and with today’s drop back in trip not seen as any great issue, this progressive five-year-old can regain the winning theme.

Only four go to post but an intriguing affair nonetheless and of the quartet, GOWEL ROAD (best price 11-4) just gains the vote on value grounds.

On his first two outings last season, the hurdles rather got in the way and prevented him from showing his true potential but finally everything fell into place over today’s C&D at the third time of asking. Beating a good field in a decent time figure at the Berkshire venue, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding was even better on his return visit a month later when accounting for the useful Good Ball with a bit to spare. Disappointing on his final start of the campaign in the County Hurdle, the son of Flemensfirth returned to action with a creditable effort in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow but it was his latest effort at Cheltenham which strongly suggested he could be a potent force in some smart handicaps this term. Staying on stoutly in the latter stages two weeks ago, he proved too strong for the well-fancied pair, Unexpected Depth and Mackelduff, and with his backend sectionals pointing towards a horse who displayed plenty of pace for the 2m5f journey, a drop back to today’s minimum trip might not be the issue it could look to be at first glance.