Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Unsurprisingly, given the kind of horse that tends to win this race in recent years, the usual lightly-raced, unexposed suspects from powerful Southern yards dominate the betting, but as the front three take a huge chunk out of the market, there might be some value to be had with likes of NOTRE BELLE BETE (best price 11-1) and TEODOLINA (best price 33-1).

The former was a source of frustration for Darren Bunyan over in Ireland – beaten as a short priced favourite on no fewer than four times – but since he’s changed yards and joined Andrew Balding, the four-year-old has appeared a totally different model for a gelding opertaion. Found a good opportunity to finally break his duck, he converted the spot kick as his odds suggested he might at Lingfield a month ago, but it was his latest victory in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton which strongly hinted the son of Zoffany is going places in a hurry. Nicely backed in the build up to the race at the Dunstall Park venue, the four-year-old grey still had plenty on his plate turning for home in order to land the punt, but staying on powerfully in the closing stages, he collared the more prominently-ridden Baldomero to ultimately win with a shade up his sleeve. Time-wise, the race 14 days ago came out extremely favourably on the clock and with loads of solid, straight track form in the bag courtesy of his time over in Ireland, this improving type is taken to prove he’s still not badly treated off a mark of 92.

The latter hasn’t run for 281 days, but it’s noticeable that she won first time out last season off a long layoff, so there’s every reason to feel confident about her hitting the straps first time out. Moreover, the form of that Ascot win on good to soft ground worked out well as the season progressed and her final run, a disappointing one at that way back in June, can be put down to very testing conditions. Looking back at some of her form as a juvenile, she was good enough to hold her own against many subsequent Group-race performers, so off a mark of 89 to begin her campaign, she has the potential to go well if her draw over towards the far side works out to be favourable.

KAIZER (NAP) (best price 9-4) had the misfortune to bump into the best-handicapped horse up North in the shape of Famous Bridge here last time, but he was by no means disgraced, and now racing back over a trip that saw him trash his opposition by 15 lengths the time before, Ewan Williams’ gelding is fancied to record win number three at today’s track.

Just touched off by Stoney Rover at Newcastle three starts ago, the son of Nathaniel was well backed to go one place better on his return to the Borders venue and, having picked up the running at the third, he gradually ground his opponents into submission over today’s 3m2f journey. Clocking a fair time for the grade, the question was would he be as effective over a much shorter trip here next time and although he narrowly failed in his bid to follow up, his effort in chasing home a very smart young novice has to go down as a career high. Clearly in excellent heart based on that performance 21 days ago, the uncomplicated seven-year-old can lead it out from the front.

POINT HIM OUT (best price 5-1) has shaped quite nicely in both his two starts to date and with today’s ground likely to be far more suitable based on his US background, Emma Lavelle’s gelding is fancied to show up a good bit more prominently. Too keen for his own good in a useful maiden hurdle at Plumpton on his UK debut, the son of Point Of Entry wasn’t seen out until two months later and once again, he ran better than his finishing position suggested. Up against several who had showed a fair level of form, he went with the main players until coming unstuck in the winter ground late on, but he was by no means knocked about once his winning chance had gone. Not a million miles behind Name In Lights, who has gone on to boost the form since, the five-year-old has a better chance than his odds suggest if he can run to a similar level.

Ado McGuinness has proved on many occasions that he’s very much the man for big-field, premier handicaps in recent times – mainly at the Galway Festival – and having landed this prize two years ago with Bowerman, the Co Dublin handler looks to have another strong hand in this season’s renewal. Of course, cases can be made for each one he sends to post, but the pick of the septet might turn out to be STAR OF CASHEL (best price 12-1) who has his first outing for his canny handler.

Fourth in this race last season when trained by Fozzy Stack, the son of No Nay failed to get his head in front in many similar events thereafter but, as a result, he now starts this campaign on a very favourable mark. Whether his high draw in stall 30 ends up being favourable or not remains to be seen, but either way, he has all the right credentials to go well providing the nearside group aren’t at a disadvantage and at his double-figure quotes, he’s worth a small each-way interest.

SPICY DUBAI (best price 9-1) shaped with an infinite amount of promise on her debut at Catterick and with the numbers from that bumper 17 days ago strongly suggesting it was a fair race of its kind, Brian Ellison’s mare is fancied to easily outrun her morning odds.

A warm race judged on the market beforehand, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai was one of many who went to post with a healthy reputation and although she couldn’t quite manage to get the job, the way she travelled throughout what was a well-run affair, suggested the money in her direction was only lent. Likely to be all the better for that initial experience both physically and mentally, this sizeable mare has the scope to do really well in future and today’s contest, in which she receives a decent weight-for-age allowance, should be well within her capabilities.