Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ESCOBAR (best price 11/4) may be the elder statesman of the party, but that doesn’t mean to say he’s a busted flush just yet, and following what surely must be one of his career-high efforts at Goodwood last time, David O’Meara’s gelding can roll back the years at the track he has a fine record in the past. 

Better known for his exploits in top-quality handicaps, the eight-year-old does, however, dip his toe into pattern company for time to time and his latest effort behind the progressive Jadoomi at the Sussex track proved still capable of mixing it with horses of a higher level. Although he proved no match for the front pair that day, the son of Famous Name still impressed with the way he stuck to the task at hand and with winner going on to land a valuable contest at Leopardstown over the weekend, the form looks solid. Even better on the figures when runner-up to the improving Blue For You in an ultra-competitive handicap at York previously, he has displayed on his last two starts that the fire still burns bright and with today’s underfoot conditions deemed to be his most favourable, he can go one place better than he did in this race last year.

SOLO SAXOPHONE (best price 3/1) may have only accounted for two rivals at Worcester last time out, one of which was a casualty, but the time figure spoke volumes about the performance rather than the size of the task, and he’s fancied to continue his revival since joining up with new connections. 

Switched to Alex Hales after slightly losing his way for Ben Haslam, the eight-year-old just took two runs to get on the scoreboard from his new base and he soon followed that win up with another polished display back at the same track. Setting a decent gallop at the Midland venue, the son of Frankel drew the sting out of his main market rival Bashful Boy and even though he was heavily eased down close home, he still recorded a 24-length victory. Time-wise, his performance 62 days ago was better on the clock than his previous success and with today’s small field very much to his liking, the hat trick bid looks well within his grasp.

FERDIA (NAP) (best price 3/1) has managed to maintain a high level of form despite being fairly busy throughout the summer and there appears no obvious reason why John Ryan’s gelding won’t go well again under ideal conditions. 

Two good efforts at the Galway Festival were rewarded with a deserved victory over the smart Popong at Tramore and although he failed in his bid to follow up at Killarney last time out, the figures say he ran to a career high. In what turned out to a very strongly run affair at the Kerry venue, the son of Dylan Thomas stayed on gamely in the latter stages to finish a close-up third behind the in-form Rock Road and with that form alone easily the best on offer coming into today’s race, it’s rather a surprise to see him chalked up as the biggest priced of the two stable runners here this afternoon. 

MELERI (best price 4/1) left the impression she didn’t quite see out the 1m4f trip at Newbury last time out, but now returning to the scene of her fine effort behind the talented Amanzoe previously, Jim Boyle’s filly can continue the fine recent run of her stable. 

Looking one of the most likely winners two out at the Berkshire venue, her effort just petered out in the closing stages, but her performance was in no way a backward step in terms of her progression. Prior to that commendable offering, the daughter of Nathaniel kept on well over today’s C&D behind a filly who now has a rating of 98, so when you weigh up all the pros and cons, it will be disappointing if she couldn’t take advantage of being dropped down into class 5 category considering the company she has been keeping of late.