Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

IMPULSIVE ONE (best price 6-1) has a little bit to find with Knight Salute on their clash in a Grade 2 at Doncaster back in December, but not so much that he should be three times the price of his old rival and he makes plenty of sense from an each-way perspective.

The joint-most experienced runner in today’s field with five hurdle runs under his belt, Nicky Henderson’s gelding has yet to run a bad race and it was good to see him gain due reward for a couple of near misses with a smooth display at listed level at Musselburgh last time out. The way he travelled through that race at the Scottish venue suggested he may have improved a good deal following a wind op and that view is backed up by the time figure he posted 20 days ago. Seemingly a much better model than the one we saw beaten by Knight Salute over today’s C&D back in October (probably unsuited by making the running) and with today’s flat, right-handed track and likely strong pace (Graystone often takes no prisoners) set to suit him more than most, the son of Union Rags looks more than a smidgen overpriced.

MINELLA DRAMA (best price 2-1) is one of those horses as a National Hunt fan you take an instant liking to, and now connections appear to have settled on his correct trip, Donald McCain’s gelding can land his second consecutive race at Grade 2 level.

A useful novice hurdler last season, good enough to finish second to My Drogo in a Grade 1 at Aintree, the son of Flemensfirth has carried forward the same level of ability to his new vocation and other than one below-par effort at Sandown two starts ago, his form has been hard to knock. Having been totally outrun over two miles at the Esher track, the decision was made to send back up half a mile at Haydock last time out and the end product turned out to be a much more desirable result. Seemingly happier going a stride slower at the Merseyside venue, the seven-year-old always looked in control and in lowering the colours of several with big reputations he also put another decent speed figure next to his name. Although he can look a bit ungainly and flash his tail, that’s just his nature rather than anything sinister and with today’s small field and likely decent gallop set to suit, this consistent performer looks sure to give his southern counterparts plenty to think about.

HAFEET ALAIN (NAP) (best price 5-2) failed to get the strongly run race he requires to be seen at his best at Wolverhampton last time out, but with today’s contest likely to be a totally different story in terms of pace, Ed Walker’s gelding can prove that he still remains a horse of some promise.

Unlucky to bump into the upwardly mobile La Tihaty at Kempton two starts ago, it was easy to see why the flashy six-year-old was all the rage to vindicate that effort next time, but unfortunately for his legion of supporters, the five runner race turned into a bit of tactical farce and he just got caught out in the dash to the line off the home bend. With at least two confirmed front runners in today’s field in the shape of Imperial Sands and Mykonos St John, the son of Elzaam should have a better

pace to shoot at and providing he’s within striking distance turning for home, he’s fancied to gun down his prey in the latter stages.

AUCUNRISQUE (best price 3-1) may only have won a handicap off a mark of 117 last time out, but he left the impression he was value for a good deal more than that rating and with connections prepared to back up that viewpoint by stepping him straight into Graded company, the bold move is fancied to receive an immediate payoff.

Slightly unlucky to come out second best of a protracted dual with Stream Of Stars at Plumpton back in December, the six-year-old made no mistake on his return to the Sussex track a month later and given the time figure of the race (runner-up won twice since), he looked to be very well treated on his opening gambit in handicap company at Wincanton next time. In what turned out to be strongly run affair at the West Country track, the son of No Risk At All proved much the best on the day and with today’s pace map pointing heavily towards another burn up at the head of affairs, he’s fancied to pick up the pieces late on. It’s also significant that his trainer plotted a similar path with the winner of this race two years ago, Highway One O Two, and this fella would appear comparable to that horse even at this early stage.

HERBIERS (best price 6-1) has a pretty useful win-to-run ratio and with most of his better performances coming on right-handed tracks, another positive outcome is expected from this likeable and consistent five-year-old.

Disappointing on his first start this season, Oliver Greenall’s gelding has improved dramatically since and his latest victory at Doncaster suggests he’s back to the sort of form that enabled him to beat a competitive field at Sandown last April. Seemingly improving for a step up in trip 91 days ago, the son of Waldpark beat a good yardstick in the shape of Global Citizen and with form figures of 2111 when racing in a clockwise direction, everything looks set fair for another positive display.