Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Things didn’t quite go to plan for KICKSAFTERSIX (best price 11-1) on his hurdling debut, being an early casualty, but hopefully, that slap in the face with a wet cloth will buck his ideas up sufficiently enough to allow him to easily outrun his outrageous-looking odds on his second start.

Highly regarded by connections, Warren Greatrex’s gelding ran a blinder on just his second start in public in a useful bumper at Worcester and with the form of that race at the Midland venue working out well since it was easy to see why he was a warm order in the market prior to his opening bow over timber at Lingfield next time. Unfortunately, the son of Scorpion head-butted the first hurdle, paying it scant regard, and even though he learnt from that jolting blow to make a better shape at the next, he simply over-corrected himself and landed in a bit of heap on the other side. Sure to have been schooled senseless by his astute handler, the five-year-old has to be a bit of chancy proposition in some respects, but at the same time, on pure ability alone, there’s simply no way he should be an 18-1 chance to win a race of this nature and he has to be worth a small interest at those odds. 

In hindsight, JERSEY LADY (best price 4-1) had little chance of keeping tabs on two above-average geldings at Wincanton last time out, but being as she still came out with a great deal of credit, she looks the one to be with at the prices back against her own sex.

Taking advantage of Tiger Orchid’s poor round of jumping to score on her hurdling debut at Hereford, Oliver Sherwood’s mare faced what looked a tough task at the West Country venue on her next start a month later and as it transpired, the fears she may not have the qualities to match the two main market rivals were borne out. That said, she did impress with the way she stuck to the task and with the time figure and final lap sectionals pretty healthy for a race of its kind, she ran a good deal better than at first feared. Moreover, she also shaped as though a step up in trip would suit so for that reason, the daughter of Martaline has a good deal more upside than her morning odds suggest.

MIDNIGHT SHADOW (best price 7-1) probably would have won the Paddy Power Gold Cup with a little bit to spare than the eventual winning margin but for making a total Horlicks of the last and with his reliability factor second to none when it comes to races of this nature, Sue Smith’s gelding is taken to confirm the form with many of the rivals he had behind him that day.

A top-class hurdler good enough to win the Relkeel back in the day, the son of Midnight Legend has worked his way towards the top of the chasing tree since switching disciplines and his latest victory over fences was nothing more than he deserved after a string of near misses. The way he travelled and jumped here a month ago signalled a horse right on top of his game and while not for one minute suggested there is a huge amount of improvement to come, the form, as it stands, is probably equal if not better than anything else coming into today’s contest. Indeed, runner-up Protektorat, went on to give it a massive thumbs-up with a smooth victory at Aintree last weekend and with most of his best runs around Cheltenham coming over the New Course – including when runner-up last year – the eight-year-old rates cast-iron fodder for the each-way bandits. 

Sarasota Star impressed with the way he disposed of his rivals at Chepstow last time out to make in 2-3 over fences, but whether he’ll be good enough to contain CAN YOU CALL (NAP) (best price 6-4) is open to question and of the pair, the latter easily makes the most appeal.

Useful over hurdles, Evan Williams’ gelding, however, has always been regarded as a decent chasing prospect, so it was with a good deal of anticipation that was attached to his opening bow at Chepstow a month ago. Arriving at the welsh venue following a 254-day break, the son of Passing Glance was given plenty of time to find his stride in the closing stages and when the field turned for home, the way he was travelling strongly suggested he was one of the most likely winners. Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain his challenge in the face of an extremely strongly run affair and in the end, he had to settle for an honourable fifth just in behind the main players. That said, the time figure indicated he’s probably run a good deal better than the initial result had suggested and with the like of Not Available, Amarillo Sky and Brave Seasca all going on to boost the form in a major way since it comes as something of a surprise to find he’s actually been dropped in the ratings by the handicapper. According to the assessor, the six-year-old is one with the least ability, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, and with a clean round of jumping, he’s strongly fancied to press home that point in this much weaker affair. 

GUARD YOUR DREAMS (best price 5-1) has a bit to find with Song For Someone on their latest clash at Ascot, but now heading back to his happy hunting ground, there’s more than a fair chance Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding can bridge the gap and at the morning odds, he’s worth a shy at the stumps. 
A creditable third behind My Drogo in a Grade 1 at Aintree on his final start to last season, that performance suggested the son of Fame And Glory would be extremely dangerous if allowed to exploit his rating of 140 and that’s exactly what happened on his opening bow to this campaign when he ran out a convincing winner of a 2m5f handicap at the Showcase meeting. Clocking a fine set of numbers that day, the five-year-old was heavily backed to take the step up in class in his stride at Ascot next time out, and although he ran perfectly respectably, he ultimately didn’t quite have the qualities to match the top-class Buzz. Despite being perfectly at home over distances beyond two miles, he’s also not short of boot and with the emphasis on stamina rather than speed the usual requirements to winners on the New Course – borne out with the long run from two out to the last – this likeable character can stay on to good effect in the final half a mile.