Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SMART CONNECTION (best price 9/2) was a shade disappointing when sent off favourite at Newcastle last time out, but as Alice Haynes’ gelding is better suited to a sharper circuit such as today’s, there’s more than a fair chance he can bounce back to his best and recoup some of the losses.

A winner on his first start at the today’s track, the son of Dutch Art returned to the Surrey venue after a 134-day break, but despite being sent off a short-priced favourite, his lack of a previous run proved his undoing as he was just run out of the argument close home by the fast-finishing Hackbridge. Looking back at his latest effort, the rather tactical affair at a track that takes some knowing didn’t work out to his advantage, but with today’s contest likely to be more evenly run with Forge Valley Lad and Union Spirit in the line-up, the five-year-old should have every chance of performing to his best.

A trappy one for punters with several question marks hanging over the main players. Guernsey is the most reliable and consistent of the bunch, but his tendency to finish second is becoming a bit of a concern, especially at a relatively short price, while there has to be some doubt about Calico seeing out the trip. Feivel seemed to beat the one-paced The Street fair and square at Hereford last time out, it’s just whether that form at Class 4 level is good enough to translate alongside a few who have been running at a higher level. One of those who has been in slightly deeper this season is MACKLEDUFF (best price 17/2) and he’s probably worthy of a shy at the stumps at a decent price in the hope a recent wind operation sets him back in the right direction.

A smooth winner of a Class 2 handicap at Aintree on his seasonal bow, Olly Murphy’s gelding then went on to run a fine race behind Gowel Road and Unexpected Party in a hot contest at Cheltenham next time and he followed that decent effort up by filling out the same position behind the useful Up For Parol in another Class 2 event at Haydock. Sent off favourite for a similar heat at Uttoxeter last time out, the son of Martaline turned in his first below-par performance for some time and given that he’s subsequently undergone surgery to correct his breathing, it’s fairly clear he must have made a noise at the Midland track. Freshened up and now back into the fray after a 60-day break, the six-year-old grey returns on a surface that suits him well and with Aidan Coleman back in the saddle having form figures on his mount that read 113, the combination are taken to outrun their odds.