Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

GODREVY POINT (NAP) (best price 11-8) made heavy weather of landing the odds at Hereford last time out, but at the same time, his bone-idle tendencies left the impression there was a good bit more to come if required, and with a handicap mark that probably doesn’t do anywhere near justice to his ability, Richard Bandley’s gelding can back up that view on handicap debut. 

Unlucky not to score due to bad mistake at the last at Doncaster earlier in the campaign, the son of Coastal Path had the misfortune to bump into the classy Skytastic over what turned out to be an inadequate trip on his return to Town Moor 63 days later. Soon stepped up to three miles for his latest encounter, the six-year-old was sent off 2-9 to dispose of what looked a modest field on paper, but as it turned out, he had to be driven right out to get the better of the persistent Bolintlea in the latter stages. In his defence, the tight nature of the track and soft ground probably made his performance look worse than it appeared and with the potential of a good bit more to come, this tall, chasing type can stamp his authority on today’s rivals, none of which are guaranteed to stay the trip. 

JUST THE MAN (best price 3-1) is quite closely knit with a few of today’s rivals, but unlike some of them, he does have a fairly consistent profile and, being the only C&D winner in the field, John O’Shea’s gelding just gains the slight vote. 

Modest on the all-weather of late, the son of Rajsaman has proven a totally different proposition over hurdles throughout the winter months and with connections plotting a course whereby he’s only risked on genuinely good ground, his results have bared the fruits of their shrewdness. A smooth winner here back in October, the six-year-old grey went on to run really well in a competitive heat at Cheltenham ten days later, and his two runs since have also highlighted his consistency. Not totally disgraced at Kempton next time, his latest effort when forcing the useful Black Poppy to pull out all the stops at Hereford reads well in the context of today’s race and with today’s underfoot conditions seen as a big positive towards his claims, the smooth-travelling hold-up performer can be delivered late on the scene to good effect.

FOX LEICESTER (best price 6-4) could have done with a better draw, but other than that slight impost, Denis Hogan’s grey has plenty going for him a claimer lacking any great strength in depth.

Placed in three outings since the turn of the year, the six-year-old finally got rewarded for his consistency when scoring over tonight’s C&D a month ago and although he couldn’t quite manage to duplicate than smooth success when returning to his happy hunting ground a week later, it was nonetheless still a fair effort over a trip which probably just stretched his stamina. Back over his optimum trip here this evening with a very promising apprentice in the plate, the son of Dark Angel is fancied to boss this race if he can get across early from his outside post.

HARBANAKER (best price 13-2) can be a bit of a cantankerous sod in the early part of his races, but because his work in the backend section is so much better, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding has to be of some interest back over a mile. 

Slowly into stride here 19 days ago, the five-year-old was taken off his feet in the early stages over a trip he hadn’t attempted for the thick end of two years, but to his credit, he rallied to the cause all the way down the straight to finish a never-nearer third. Considering he also achieved this feat despite racing on the slowest part of the track up the inside, his effort needs upgrading, and with tonight’s extra furlong seen as a major plus in his bid to back up his previous C&D win, the son of Camacho is worth a small dabble from an each-way perspective.