Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

A race dominated by National Hunt trainers in recent times and that trend looks set to be continued with RUN FOR OSCAR (NAP) (best price 5/1) representing the shrewd Irish set-up of Charles Byrnes.

A seven-year-old both quirky and talented in equal measures, arrives here bang on top of his game thanks to a clearcut victory at Haydock last time out and with the time figure speaking very favourably of that performance 41 days ago, he once again proved that he’s very much home over a strongly run two miles. A massive eye-catcher at The Curragh the time before, it has to be significant that connections have chosen to come here instead of running for three times the money in the Irish version on home soil last weekend and with the galloping nature of today’s track sure to suit this strong stayer at the trip, anything other than him taking home a huge slice of the pie would go down as a massive disappointment.

ATACAMA DESERT (best price 5/2) is progressing at a rapid rate of knots and with his latest victory over today’s C&D being just as impressive as his previous one at Haydock, there’s no obvious reason to see why Kevin Frost’s gelding won’t complete his hat trick.

Really good on the numbers when scoring with plenty in hand at the Merseyside venue, there has to be an element of doubt whether he would stay the extra half a mile next time out, but as it turned out, he gave his supporters little cause for concern with another commanding display. Picking up the running going well two out, the son of Galileo bounded clear in the closing stages and if anything, there appeared to be more left in the tank. If that turns out to be the case, a subsequent rise in the ratings shouldn’t be enough to stop him and having handled plenty of cut in the ground a month earlier, today’s conditions should also be ideal.

Aa tightly-knit fillies’ affair with most form lines surrounding Gale Force Maya and with both AZURE BLUE (best price 9/1) and PINK CRYSTAL (best price 9/1) interlinked with Michael Dods’ mare in some way, the pair are taken against the field at their respective morning odds.

The former has yet to face her more established stable mate, but she seems to be improving along a similar trajectory and her latest performance over today’s C&D suggests she could easily be up to this sort of grade. Looking in a spot of bother two out, the daughter of El Babeir pulled it out of the fire with smart turn of foot to get up close home and with numbers from that race, both overall and final sectionals, speaking favourably of her effort, now looks the time to have a crack at something more substantial. A consistent filly with a likeable attitude to match her ability, another big run looks on the cards.

The latter left the impression she may have beaten Gale Force Maya with a clearer passage at Ayr last time out and under slightly more taxing conditions, there’s every chance William Haggas’ filly can confirm that view.

Undeniably unlucky on her two previous starts, she was well-backed to make amends at the Scottish venue last month but while her old rival was enjoying a charmed life in clear water out in front, the daughter of Shamardal was getting caught up in the backwash in behind. Once out in the clear she flew home to finish a never-nearer second and with today’s extra yardage very much welcomed given the way she finishes off her races, only another tragic run through the field can prevent her not having a huge say in the final argument.

Where SAN AER (best price 15/2) would have finished with a clearer run here last time out is anyone’s guess, but there’s a good chance he would have been involved in the final outcome at the very least and he’s fancied to back up that view on his return to the Co Kildare venue.

A convincing winner of a competitive handicap on his previous visit despite not getting the clearest of passages, this time the fickle hand of fate played its cards in a very different way a month later as Thomas Mullins’ inmate got trapped in behind a wall of horses going well. Out in the clear too late, he flew home to suggest he had plenty of petrol left in the tank and with today’s extra furlong likely to see him to best advantage, the son of Vocalised rates a decent each-way bet with most firms offering five places.

JANUS (best price 5/1), since the combination of a trainer switch and the sporting of a visor, Simon Hodgson’s gelding has taken his form to another level and with his latest victory coming courtesy of a quick time for the grade, he looks in prime position to strike again.

A winner on his first start for new connections at Lingfield back in May, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar went on a run of frustrating placed efforts before finding the back of the net again over tonight’s C&D 16 days ago. In what turned out to be a well-run race at the Essex venue, the seven-year-old stayed on extremely well inside the final half a mile to get up close home and with that being the second time he’s gone well on the slow, polytrack surface, confidence is high he can thrive again in a similar environment.