Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

GREAT OCEAN (best price 7-4) was unlucky to bump into an above-average type in the shape of Lac Du Constance at Exeter last time out, but at the same time, he did manage to pull well clear of the rest and with today’s contest unlikely to produce any stars of similar quality, Philip Hobbs’ gelding can put his valuable experience to good use. 

Despite being a former Irish point winner last April, the son of Great Pretender has displayed plenty of natural pace for the two-mile journey he’s encountered three times and his latest effort was by far and away his best on the figures. In a race noted for its strong pace at the West Country venue, he was the only one capable of going with the eventual winner in the final half a mile and repeat of something near the same level of form should see him give favourite backers an uncomfortable time of things at the very least.

BELLE DE MANECH (best price 5-1) ultimately ran out quite an impressive winner over today’s course on her chasing debut and despite there being a minimal doubt about her effectiveness over half a mile shorter, Anthony Honeyball’s mare still rates a confident choice to cast aside that slight negative. 
A useful novice hurdler, she’s always looked the type to make an impact over fences, such is her size, and connections must have been delighted with the way she took to her new vocation 13 days ago. Held up in last place of the six-runner field, the daughter of Vision D’Etat popped away nicely and did her own thing until being woken up to take closer order turning for home and having joined the leaders two out, it soon became apparent she was running all over her opponents. By the time she’d hit the line, the six-year-old grey had pulled 14 lengths clear of her nearest challenger and with the clock backing up the visual impression of the display, her performance carries even more weight. Although that was over 2m4f, she has plenty of strong form over the minimum trip previously and with her ability to handle today’s track one of the main features of her chance, the scopey mare can take this stiffer examination in her stride.

BRING THE ACTION (best price 11-2) was just sneaking into contention when he parted company with his pilot at the fourth last on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter, but he did more than enough until that point to suggest he can make an impact over the larger obstacles and today could be where the fun begins. 
A winner of a point back in 2020, Nigel Hawke’s gelding has been marking time over hurdles ever since and although he’s ran a few notable races in that discipline – including in a good race at Exeter on his seasonal return – the size of him lends itself to think fences will bring about the necessary improvement going forward. Watching the race back again from the Midland venue, it was if the first two miles of the contest was an exercise in pure education and although an end product would have been nice, there was enough there to make him a bet at the morning prices second time around. 

EDRAAK (best price 13-8) impressed with the way he breezed by his rivals over tonight’s course last time out and although he’s now got to go and prove himself again over a furlong shorter, he has enough back class at six to warrant keeping him on side in this slightly tougher assignment. 

In good form during the whole of the Flat turf season, his effort when fifth in the Ayr Gold Cup was testimony to the levels of improvement he’d shown and even following an 81-day break, he was still capable of running to a very high standard. Racing at the Sunbury venue for the first time, the son of Elzaam was held up towards the rear of the eight-strong field and when asked to make his challenge inside the final two furlongs, he readily answered the call by quickening up in some style. Clocking a time figure right up there with some of his previous career highs, the six-year-old added yet another all-weather victory to his cv and despite tonight’s contest looking quite a tightly-knit affair, a likely good gallop should allow him to show his qualities.