Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

OAKLEY (best price 9-1) and OSPREY CALL (best price 8-1) fought out the finish to a competitive little handicap at Stratford last month and with the speed figure strongly hinting that it was a fair race of its kind, the pair are worth playing against the field. 

The former has been fairly highly tried during his time over hurdles, so it came as little shock that he was able to take advantage of a drop in grade at the Midland track and having tried 2m3f to little effect at Taunton the time before, it’s clear that a sharp two miles suited far better. Always travelling best 33 days ago, Richard Bandey’s gelding kicked far enough clear off the home turn to have enough of a buffer to withstand the late rally of the runner-up and with the well-beaten third, Shantou Express already coming out and boosting the form since there’s every reason to feel upbeat about his chance of following up.
The latter was incredibly well backed to back up his previous success at Warwick, but he just got caught out as the tempo increased and he couldn’t quite peg back the winner who got first run off the home turn. Still, it was still another step in the right direction for a horse who hasn’t always looked the most straightforward of characters and he always deserves to be played against the field at his morning odds. 

SUPER CITIZEN (best price 5-1) posted a pretty decent time figure for the grade when scoring in convincing fashion at Leopardstown last time out and with the form of the race at the Dublin venue already beginning to take shape (seventh won since), and the eight-year-old is fancied to run his usual honest race with similar conditions in place.

A versatile character, often mixing conventional fences with races over the banks on either side of the Irish Sea, the son of Mulitiplex came good again in what looked a very competitive affair 40 days ago and then when you add on to the visual aspect of the display the speed figure, his performance gains even more credence. Not only did he clock the fastest furlong-per-furlong time on the seven-race card, he also managed to run the last circuit two seconds quicker than Mt Leinster, who took the 2m1f beginners chase half an hour earlier. Clearly running beyond a horse rated 105 going into that contest, Eugene O’Sullivan’s will be hard to beat if replicating a similar level here today.

There’s no denying PARIS LIGHTS (best price 6-1) could have done with a better draw, but daft as it sounds, sometimes being posted right on the wide outside with nothing but clear daylight to shoot at is better than being stuck in the pack, so providing Jessica Harrington’s gelding can break a good deal cleaner than he did at Navan last time out, he has enough ability to feature heavily in a maiden of this nature. 

Extremely promising in a hot maiden at the Curragh on his only start as a juvenile, the son of Siyouni was well backed to make a winning start to this campaign, but unfortunately for his legion of supporters his chance went up in smoke as soon at the gates flew back. Finding himself in last place as the field turned for home at the Co Meath track, he did, however, stay on incredibly strongly in the final half a mile to at least make the losing margin respectable and it’s clear of that evidence he has a fair engine under the bonnet. Stepped up to a trip today that should suit, only a complete failure to comply at the start would see him not go close to breaking his maiden tag.

KAIZER (best price 9-1) has been in the form of his life recently, backed up by the clock, so even though the handicapper has done his best to try and rein him back in, Ewan Whillans’ chestnut may still be capable of maintaining his momentum. 

A wide-margin winner at Kelso three starts ago, the seven-year-old duplicated that win with an even more impressive display back at the Borders venue last time out and with the numbers once again stacking up in an extremely favourable way in the context of other races over shorter distances, it’s clear that he has plenty of pace in his legs for a stayer. Although he has got plenty of solid form on soft ground, faster conditions seem to suit him best and having run well in a quality Class 2 affair on his only previous visit to today’s venue, confidence is high he can end his season in a positive fashion. 

A favourable weather forecast means conditions are going to be quicker than usual for this fixture and that won’t bother GLAN (best price 13-2) one iota who has a great chance of claiming this prize on the pick of her best form, predominately at today’s track. 

A winner of three of her nine starts and generally consistent in the other six, including two at Grade 3 level, it’s noticeable that5 Gordon Elliott’s mare has saved two of her best display for today’s Co Meath venue. Off the mark over hurdles with a win in a maiden back in October, she returned to the scene of that effort to finish an honourable second in a big-field handicap and if it wasn’t for getting messed around on the home turn that day, she may have prevailed. Unsuited by winter soft ground at Leopardstown next time, the daughter of Getaway has been freshened up since and off a mark of 123, a repeat of that previous C&D performance should see her go very close.

AGHABOY (best price 6-1) has had ‘handicap project’ written all over him given the way he’s been ridden on his last two starts and having picked up an opening mark with is more than workable, Kevin Prendergast’s gelding can draw attention to himself for all the right reasons. 

To say he got a strange ride at Dundalk two starts ago is the understatement of the century and although his performance at the Curragh last time out was slightly less comical, it was one that still raised the odd eyebrow. Held up towards the rear of a big field at the Co Kildare venue, the son of Protectionist seemed to be chugging along without making too many inroads until he suddenly picked up the bridle inside the final furlong to finish with a good deal of purpose. Clearly requiring much further than the seven furlongs on offer that day, the three-year-old chestnut now gets the chance to race over a trip that is more in-keeping with his family (sire was a winner over 1m4f), and with today’s line-up not exactly chocked full of obviously well-handicapped types, he’s taken to finally step up to the plate. 

SHERPA TRAIL (best price 14-1) had no right to run as well as he did in a much better race than the one he faces tonight here last time and a repeat of similar should be good enough to see Simon Dow’s gelding outrun his morning odds by quite some distance. 

A creditable third over today’s C&D three starts ago, the son of Gio Ponti was pitched into an ultra-competitive contest back at the Surrey track last time out and although he unsurprisingly came up a little short, to only get beaten three lengths in a race that was extremely well-run has to go down a career-high effort by some way. Not a million miles behind today’s favourite Miss Sligo the last time they met back in February, it’s worth pointing out he was a little bit unlucky in the run on that occasion and with the handicapper seeing fit to somehow drop him in the ratings despite such a massive effort 17 days ago, double-figure morning quotes deserve to be snaffled up.