Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Dan Skelton appears to have a bunch of quality mares in his midst this season and with GET A TONIC (best price 7-2) up towards the top of the pecking order based on her performances so far to date, she can prove more than a match for the boys in this step up in grade.

A promising runner-up to the useful Lady Adare at Uttoxeter on her hurdling debut – form of which has worked out terrifically well since – the daughter of Getaway made no mistake at Leicester next time out and following that convincing success, she was well-backed out of mares’ only company on her return to the Staffordshire venue on her latest start. Taking on the likes of Nothin To Ask, Blairgowrie and Tigerbythetail, the six-year-old once again showed her class with a smart turn of foot in the closing stages and with the former of that trio going on to boost the form at Chepstow a few days ago, the standard of her display 25 days ago is there for all to see. A smooth traveller with a useful change of gear at the business end of her races, her speed figures and overall levels of form suggest she thoroughly deserves a crack at this standard. 

A cracking mares’ only Grade 3 contest despite the small field and with slight doubts about Put The Kettle On (trip) and Elimay (a little underwhelming first time out), MOUNT IDA (best price 5-2) is waiting in the wings to pounce on any misgivings of the main players. 

A miraculous winner of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last season (touched 1000-1 in running), Gordon Elliott’s mare didn’t fare too badly against Elimay on her final start of the campaign, running on strongly in the closing stages after a bad mistake at the third last. Given the way she finished off her race that day, it’s not impossible to see her reversing the form with her old rival now conditions are more in her favour and at the morning odds, she simply has to be the percentage call returning to the scene of that slightly unlucky effort. Moreover, her victory at Clonmel on her seasonal bow – in a fast time - strongly suggests she may have improved a good bit following her time off and today’s even stiffer test is also likely to play into her strengths more than most.

SPOT ON SOPH (NAP) (best price 11-8) confirmed the promise of her chasing debut when scoring today’s course midway through last month and with the strongest part of her game the backend of what turned to be a well-run race, Sam England’s mare is fancied to prove a revelation over this 3m1f trip. 
In the rear going down the back straight at the Yorkshire venue, the daughter of Walk In The Park still had her back to the wall turning for home, but once she engaged top gear in the closing stages, she readily pulled clear of her field. In making a mockery of her mark of 79, she also managed to run the final circuit quicker than the two-mile handicap chase won by the 113-rated Out On The Tear -which is always a fair guide – and with the third home 18 days ago, only narrowly failing to go two places better at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, confidence is high the six-year-old can uphold the same form line on her return to a track that clearly suits. 

GUARD YOUR DREAMS (best price 7-2) proved his current assessment of 147 was way short of the mark up against 150+ rated horses here last time out and with a step back to a trip more in-keeping with his profile seen as a massive plus, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding can maintain his rise up the ranks.
A convincing winner of a handicap hurdle off top-weight in the fast time at the Showcase meeting in October, the son of Fame And Glory just came up a little short on his first dip into Graded level at Ascot next time. Dropped back to the minimum trip on his return to Prestbury Park next time, an aggressive ride was the order of the day with a view to making the most of his confirmed stamina and in what turned out to be a thrilling finish, he found plenty for pressure to fend off the late challenge of Song For Someone. Clocking a smart speed figure into the bargain, it was good to see the fourth horse home, Heaven Help Us (beaten 10 lengths), fly the flag for the form at Leopardstown the other day, and with today’s opposition appearing to be no greater than he faced last time in terms of quality, the reliable six-year-old looks booked to put up another bold show.