Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

The withdrawals of strongly-fancied pair Punctuation and Pearly Island puts a whole new complexion to this handicap and it looks to have paved the way for ROYAUME UNI (best price 7-4) to follow up his recent Fontwell win.

Only eighth when fancied in many quarters to do better in the Betfair Hurdle here back in February, Gary Moore’s gelding took advantage of a huge drop down in class at the Sussex track last time out and, at the same time, he also proved he’s probably better on a quicker surface. Based on that smooth performance, he looks a horse right on top of his game at present and this smooth traveller has the class to prove that he’s still a good bit better than his current mark.

Not a particularly strong-looking Grade 2 and it’s one DO YOUR JOB (best price 2-1) has every chance of capturing based on his progression over fences. Not quite good enough for the likes of Edwardstone and Third Time Lucki over two miles earlier on in the campaign, the decision was made to step him up in trip at Newcastle last time out and on the evidence of his display at the Gosforth Park track, 2m4f seems to suit him a good deal better. In a race that was run a strong gallop 35 days ago, Michael Scudamore’s gelding proved equal to the task and he now looks ready for a step back up in grade with that confidence booster tucked up his sleeve. A winner over today’s track over hurdles, the scopey son of Fame And Glory has plenty in his favour.

As we saw in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, lightly-raced novices tend to hold sway in these big staying handicap chases nowadays and of those that fall into that bracket in this particular heat, STORMY JUDGE (best price 7-1) and MAJOR DUNDEE (best price 11-1) make enough appeal based on their respective profiles to warrant an interest.

The former looks to have been targeted specifically at this prize judged on his lightly-raced campaign and his latest effort at Naas reads better than the bare result. Looming up looking a massive threat approaching two out at the Co Kildare venue, Pat Fahy’s gelding couldn’t quite go with the main players from that juncture, but considering it was his first race for the thick end of a year, he was fully entitled to take a blow. Likely to be all the better for that outing, a repeat of his victory in the EBF Final over the likes of Enjoy D’Allen and School Boy Hours at Navan last season gives him a fine opportunity of going just as well as his stable companion, Mister Fogpatches, did in this race last year.

The latter has taken really well to fences and he certainly has enough quality to feature in a race of this nature despite lacking experience. Unbeaten in his first two starts, he only just lost out in a driving finish at Newbury last time out, but with the time figure good and the third going on to boost the form subsequently, Alan King’s gelding clearly ran to a fairly useful standard. Suited by decent ground and similar in many ways to Godmejudge, who took this race for his Barbury Castle handler several years ago, the son of Scorpion makes more appeal than most at his morning price.

DUKE DE SESSA (best price 4-1) rounded off last season with a taking performance in the Eyrefield Stakes over today’s course and with the hope that Dermot Weld’s keeps on progressing in the right manner as a three-year-old, this promising colt can earn a ticket to the Irish 2000 Guineas later in the campaign.

A big eye-catcher on his debut at Galway, the son of Lope De Vega didn’t waste any time getting off the mark at the Curragh next time and it was at that juncture that connections decided to bite the bullet and up him considerably in class. As it transpired, he didn’t have the pace to cope with the likes of Native Trail and Co over seven furlongs at Group 1 level, but it was a case of lesson learnt in what turned out to be a baptism of fire. Back up in trip on his final start of the campaign, the three-year-old colt was dropped out towards the rear of the field in what appeared a competitive Group 3 on paper, but once set alight in the last two furlongs, he found a sparkling turn of foot to gun down his ten rivals to win going away. Scoring in a fast time, his bleed of speed and stamina will hopefully stand him in good stead throughout the new campaign and hailing from a who have made a fairly bright start to the turf season, their number one hope for Classic glory can keep the Master of Rosewell on the map.

A cracking handicap with many holding solid claims on the pick of their best form and the two that stand out as the most likely to be suited by a race of this nature are MENAI BRIDGE (best price 10-3) and MARIONS BOY (best price 6-1).

The former has quickly established himself as a proper all-weather performer and with his victory over today’s C&D last month meaning he’s now 3-3 at the Surrey venue, Charles Hills’ gelding is the first port of call when assessing the 13 runners. Victorious over a mile the first time, the son of Cable Bay followed up by landing a very strongly run handicap in the Racing League series over two furlongs further later in the season and he completed the hat trick of wins when fending off the challenges of two in-form rivals in the shape of Emblem Empire and Old Port 36 days ago. Nicely drawn to hopefully obtain a good early posse, the faster they go, the better his chance.

The latter is also pretty handy around the Surrey track and he also would benefit from a strong gallop. Third in a muddling race that didn’t suit here last time, he did, however, take his form figures here to 111223 and with a good break from his inside draw, a big run is expected from Roger Teal’s gelding.