Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

AUTUMN RETURN (best price 7/2) is improving on a really nice trajectory and having won a point-to-point, bumper and hurdle in his last three starts, Ruth Jefferson’s mare can keep the ball rolling stepping up to a trip that should suit. 

All out to win on his rules debut at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting in April, the daughter of Fame And Glory came back to action following a 175-day break at Market Rasen recently and despite the track being on the sharp side for her, she still managed to assert her superiority on her rivals in the latter stages. 
The key to that victory at the Lincolnshire venue was the strong pace set by the trail-blazing Kingston Sunflower as it really helped this progressive five-year-old play her stamina card on the run-in and now over an extra half a mile, you’d like to think there would be even more to come. 

CONSERVATIONIST (best price 5/1) impressed with the way she galloped hard all the way to the line when making all the running at Haydock last time out and with today’s straight mile perfect for a horse with her sort of skill set, Clive Cox’s filly can take the step into pattern company in her stride. 

Promising over on the July Course back in August, the daughter of Muhaarar was well-supported to find the necessary improvement at the second time of asking and having made her intentions clear from the start at the Merseyside venue, she never took her foot off the gas at any stage. 

Posting a smart speed figure in the process, she indicated she could well be capable of mixing it at a higher level and with connections wasting no time in their bid to find out, black type looks well within her capabilities. 

ALTO ALTO (best price 10/3) rounded off his season with an excellent third in a very hot novices’ handicap at Sandown and with that form by far and away the best on offer in today’s field, Chris Gordon’s gelding is fancied to back up that view if fitness isn’t an issue. 

Despite being a winner at Plumpton previously, the son of Falco was still sent off an 18-1 chance at the Esher venue such was the task he faced, but that didn’t stop him running a career high behind Knapper’s Hill and Boombawn, both who have gone on to prove the value of the form this season. 

Looking likely to be fifth at best on the approach to the last 189 days ago, the way he stayed on strongly on the run-in suggests he will be seen in a better light over today’s extra yardage and hailing from a stable that are running at a 33% strike rate at present, he will hopefully be good enough on the day to exploit his current mark of 110. 

OTTOMAN FLEET (best price 7/2) was unlucky to bump into the upwardly-mobile Alflaila in a white-hot Group 3 over today’s course last time out, but with a return to a more suitable trip very much in favour of Charlie Appleby’s gelding, he rates a solid bet to maintain his fine record over the Rowley Course. 

A winner of a listed contest over today’s C&D on just his second start earlier in the campaign, the son of Sea The Stars has been lightly-raced since, but on his return to action following a mid-Summer break, he’s managed to take his game to a higher level. 

Runner-up to the smart Marching Army in a hot handicap at Newbury two starts ago, the three-year-old pulled well clear of the rest when chasing home a potentially top-class performer here last time and with the only difference about today being the state of the ground, he has all the right attributes to finish off his season on a high if handled the conditions.