Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

LE LIGERIEN (best price 10-3) couldn’t quite live with a couple of big improvers in a hot Class 2 event at Lingfield last time out, but he was by no means disgraced and, as a result, he makes a good deal more appeal in today’s much weaker contest.

A three-time winner over hurdles, it took a while for Philip Hobbs’ gelding to strike oil over fences, but following a confidence-boosting victory in the point-to-point field, he finally pieced it all together at Chepstow two starts ago. Carrying that new-found confidence over to his latest assignment at the Surrey venue, the son of Turgeon was prominent in the market despite a huge step up in grade and although he failed to live up to expectations, the useful time figure from the race offered the biggest clue as to why he could only manage a distant third. Back down to Class 4 level and up against a field who, by and large, don’t appear to have a huge amount of progression, the nine-year-old should find life in the slow(er) lane more to his liking.

Just four go to post for this Grade 2 novices contest, but an intriguing one nonetheless and its one BRAVE SEASCA (best price 5-1) deserves to command more respect than his morning odds suggest.

Well beaten in a hot handicap at Chepstow earlier in the campaign, Venetia Williams’ gelding has subsequently gone from strength to strength and with two of his three victories coming over today’s C&D, the knowledge he’s gathered along the way should count for plenty in the final analysis. Despite being well treated up against the smart Sky Pirate on the latest of those wins, he still impressed with the way he jumped and travelled at the Midland venue and with today’s likely strong gallop sure to play into his strengths, the son of Brave Mansonnien makes plenty of appeal at the morning prices.

There’s no denying Broomfield Burg still has the potential to prove a blot in the handicap, but for all his list of positives, SOARING GLORY (best price 13-2) remains the solid one in his bid to back up last year’s success on this race.

Silky-smooth at the Berkshire track twelve months ago, connections were fully entitled to roll the dice in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but as it turned out, the ground conditions and opposition on the day proved a bridge too far and he ended up having to settle for a well-beaten fourth. Back in the groove in a handicap on his return to action at Ascot, the son of Fame and Glory once again found Grade 1 company just out of his reach at Kempton last time out, but at least he didn’t get beaten too far behind the top-class Epatante. Surprisingly dropped back down to 147 by the assessor despite that career best effort, the seven-year-old still appears to have a perfectly respectable claims despite top weight and with the ground also very much in his favour, it’s hard to see this consistent and strong-travelling performer – who has a terrific record in double figure fields - not being good enough to hit the frame at the very least.

Hughie Morrison is better known for his exploits on the Flat, but he is also a dab hand when he dips in and out of the National Hunt game and with his specialist subject being bumpers, FILANDERER (best price 8-1) has decent chance of keeping up traditions for the East Ilsley handler.

Related to stable star of the past Marble Arch, there was always a decent chance the son of Kayf Tara would make the grade and based on what we saw of him on his debut at Warwick, he certainly appears to have ability and potential in equal measures. Settled in midfield in what turned out to be a well-run race of its kind, the six-year-old got momentarily outpaced coming out of the back straight, but he soon snapped back on the bridle and by the time he’d set his sights for home, it was clear it was going to be a straight shootout between him and the well-fancied Samourai One. Staying best of the pair in the latter stages, this big imposing type hit the line in the kind of fashion to suggest he had more to offer if required and with today’s galloping track likely to suit his long stride, Filanderer rates a decent each-way bet with most firms offering four places. Of the rest, Authorised Speed looks the obvious danger having scored in the style of a useful horse over today’s C&D last time. He also looks to have a bright future.

It’s a little disconcerting why MENAI BRIDGE (best price 7-4) hasn’t been seen out for 184 days, but that slight negative aside, Charles Hills’ gelding has a profile to suggest he be very hard to beat on a surface where his form figures read 1131.

A winner on his first try on an all-weather surface, the son of Cable Bay has continued to improve in the interim and his latest victory, his second of the trio at Lingfield, was easily his best effort on the figures. In a race run at a searching pace at the Surrey venue, the four-year-old stayed on gamely in the closing when looking vulnerable to the late thrust of Oslo and his success also went some way to prove that he’s just as effective over 1m2f than a mile. Providing all is well in his world after his enforced break, he really ought to have the legs of tonight’s field and he rates a confident choice to continue his progression.