Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

DANGER ALERT (best price 4/1) just came out second best of a titanic dual with the more experienced Mutaany at Brighton last time out and with that commendable effort going along way to confirm his liking for soft ground, George Boughey’s inmate can notch his first win of his career.

Having his first run for his new set-up after shaping nicely for Keven Philippart De Foy, the son of Ardad faced an opponent at the seaside venue who had finished runner-up on his three previous outings, so to push him as hard as he did in the closing stages has to go down as a massive step in the right direction. Moreover, the time figure they achieved in producing a stirring finish was an extremely good for a race of its kind and with today’s contest the last chance he has of running in a nursery under similar conditions before the all-weather season proper kicks in, hope is high he can grasp the opportunity with both hands.

ROSE OF ARCADIA (best price 7/2), it’s fair to say, hasn’t always delivered what has been expected of her in the past, but judged on her latest victory at Chepstow, Joe Tizzard’s mare looks finally capable of getting back to where she belongs.

Seemingly not quite getting home in many of her races last season after travelling well, a short spell in the point field was the prescribed medicine in order to cure whatever issue was bothering her and although one swallow doesn’t make a Summer, the end product at the Welsh track 11 days ago has to be seen a massive step back in the right direction.

Once again travelling with all her usual verve, this time the daughter of Arcadio saw the trip out really well and that must have been a huge relief to all concerned. Third in this race last year off a similar mark, hopefully she can go and prove what a good mare she is when all parts are working in perfect harmony.

TARHIB (best price 6/1) ran out a wildly-impressive winner of a competitive affair at Nottingham last time out and with her profile strongly suggesting she’s very much a more complete model than the one who took part in the race last year, William Haggas’ filly Is likely to improve enough to be a more significant factor this time around.

Beaten twice off 88 in handicaps prior to racing at the Midland venue, it would be inconceivable to think she would end up against the likes of Art Power and Commanche Falls in a race of this nature, but such was the way she won 10 days ago, she more than deserves her place in the line-up. On a day where the high numbers towards the nearside held sway, the daughter of Dark Angel was the only horse who managed to score against the track bias and considering she had to start her run from way back in the field – largely thanks to a bump at the start – her performance was entitled to a big upgrade.

Back for a second shot at this prize, she’s clearly going to have to step up again according to the ratings, but she couldn’t arrive here in any ruder health and being drawn next to the likely pace-setters this time will also aid her cause.

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES (best price 7/1) would never be one for maximum stakes, as his winless run in recent times suggests, but at the same time, he’s always likely to run his race and having showed a decent aptitude for these fences on his first attempt last April, Dan Skelton’s gelding is fancied to make the frame at the very least.

Despite his rather frustrating sequence of results, he has often run extremely well in some of the best 2m4f handicaps in the calendar and his effort here in the Topham Handicap over today’s C&D deserves a decent amount of praise. Finding himself towards the rear of the 29-strong field after fairly hesitant jump at the first, the son of Darsi was always going to find life tough to get himself into some sort of challenging position, so to end up finishing a creditable fifth from where he was at halfway is testimony to ability not to give up a lost cause.

Presumably targeted at this prize ever since, the 10-year-old should be spot on in terms of fitness following a nice pipe-opener in a competitive affair at Fakenham on his return (third won since) and with today’s smaller field likely to mean he won’t be quite so far behind this time, he will hopefully prove competitive at the business end.

YANIFER (best price 6/1) arrives here right on top of his game thanks to his fourth win in six starts and with the conditions similar to what he encountered at Catterick 11 days ago, Ruth Carr’s gelding can capture his most notable success so far to date.

The son of Dandy Man first began his golden run when successful over today’s C&D back in June and although there has been a couple of bumps in the road since, generally speaking he’s maintained a pretty high level of form.

Indeed, his latest performance at the Yorkshire venue based on the clock strongly suggests he’s better than ever and even though today’s contest will require to take his game up a further notch, his recent numbers hint he should be more than capable of stepping up to the plate.

Only four runners go to post for this valuable prize, but a quality field assembled nonetheless and of the quartet, KNAPPERS HILL (NAP) (best price 9/4) is fancied to take advantage of how the race is likely to pan out.

Winner of the Aintree bumper in 2021, Paul Nicholls’ gelding was expected to make the grade over hurdles and although he’s yet to make his way to the very top table, his performances up to now have been of a pretty high standard. His latest effort, for one, suggests he’s getting better with more experience and the form of his victory in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow suggests it was even better than it first appeared on the day. To back up the time figure he posted, the runner-up, sixth and seventh have all won since and considering that effort came over a trip he was unproven over at the time, his effort deserves upgrading.

Just as effective over today’s trip, if not better, he will surely be afforded the luxury of an uncontested lead up against three proven hold-up performers and if Harry Cobden can get the fractions right at the head of affairs, he’s likely to take some pegging back once turning for home.

A typically wide-open renewal of the final big race of the Flat season and with NATHANAEL GREENE (best price 8/1) as one of the confirmed mud0lovers in the field, William Haggas’ gelding can round off a tremendous campaign for his handler.

Encountering soft ground for the first time at Haydock back in July, the son of Nathaniel ran out a game winner of a competitive three-year-old handicap and since then, the race has worked out as well as any of its kind all season. The runner-up, Giavelotto, went on to finish third in the St Leger, while the sixth, eighth and ninth all went on to land similar contests later on in the campaign.

Despite running well again another hot affair at York when last seen, he probably found the ground a little on the lively side, but now with conditions firmly back in his favour and off what still appears a decent mark, the strong-galloping three-year-old looks set to end the term in a blaze of glory.