Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

BALLYBLACK (NAP) (best price 5-4) was the only one to offer any sort of resistance to the potentially high-class Brave Kingdom in an above-average novice event at Taunton on his rules debut and with experience he gleaned highly unlikely not to be lost on Jeremy Scott’s gelding, he makes more appeal than most in this similar heat. 

A game-winner of an Irish point on his final start for old connections, the son of Shirocco was pitched into quite a hot contest for his hurdles debut, but it didn’t stop him running a hugely commendable race in chasing home a horse who is regarded as Graded material by Paul Nicholls. Held up towards the rear with a circuit to go, the six-year-old gradually picked off flagging rivals one by one and although he couldn’t quite get on terms with the eventual winner, it was noticeable that he pulled miles clear of the rest that including one of today’s main rivals, Last Royal, plus subsequent winner Monviel (beaten 22 lengths). Moreover, his final circuit time of 2.23.4 was not only better than the winner (2.24.1), but quicker than the likes of Rainyday Woman (2.25.7), Tip Top Cat (2.26.9) and Irish Hill (2.27.4), strongly suggesting he ran even better than at first glance. Likely to appreciate today’s step up in trip based on the evidence of his West Country encounter, Ballyblack can prove his 25k purchase price was extremely shrewd business. 

It’s been good to see Brian Ellison hit a nice bit of form in the last week or so (five winners from 25 runners) and the positive vibes could well continue with PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL (best price 10-3) in this concluding handicap. 

Although a winner of just one of his five hurdle starts, his efforts in defeat have arguably amounted to a good deal more and when you consider the horse he’s been up against of late, it would be really disappointing if he couldn’t take advantage of a significant drop in grade. Beaten by the 127-rated Clondaw Hollow at Perth earlier in the season, the son of Shirocco had subsequent winner Findthetime (116) 24 lengths back in third, and then he ran well up against Gowel Road, Unexpected Party, Good Time Johnny and Severance in a quality handicap at Cheltenham – all of whom have either won or finished placed in top-quality handicaps since. Slightly below-par back at the same track last time, it was in a period, however, when his stable couldn’t but a winner for love nor money, but with that poor run of form a thing of the past, the lightly-raced five-year-old should easily be capable of making some sort of impact off a mark of 112 under his ideal conditions.

ENDURING (best price 9-2) has been a model of consistency over tonight’s course in recent times and following another solid effort in a much better race here last week, Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding can finally make the breakthrough his endeavours deserve. 

A dual winner over tonight’s six-furlong track in the past, the four-year-old has played a prominent role in many handicaps at the Sunbury venue over the last 18 months and his last two performances here have to be considered as some of the better ones even without winning. Third in a competitive 6f affair three starts ago, both the runner-up and fifth have won since and his effort here last time has already been boosted by the second home, Whittle Le Woods, scoring at Wolverhampton last night. Settling just off the pace on just his second try over seven-furlongs nine days ago, the son of Coulsty seemed to get the trip well enough and with several other horses in tonight’s line-up prepared to do the donkey work upfront if he wanted a night off from that role, another positive outcome should be forthcoming.