Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CASTLE ROBIN (best price 13/2) shaped as though he would be all the better for his first outing of the season at Kelso last time out and with the cheekpieces on for the first time to perhaps just sharpen up his game, Charlie Longsdon’s gelding can add to his previous course win over hurdles.

Since that successful day at this fixture two years ago, the son of Robin Des Champs has embarked on a lucrative career over fences and with three wins from five starts in his first season, connections would no doubt be dreaming of even better things to come during his second term.

Although not quite delivering the goods at the first time of asking, he was clearly up against a bunch of opponents where there was no wriggle room for a slight off day and in any case, a 214-day break could catch any horse out when they are no quite on the money. More to the point, the race at the Borders venue was also noted for its strong overall time figure, so in the cold light of day, it probably wasn’t that bad a performance after all.

A prominent racer whose jumping is one of his major assets, the seven-year-old looks primed to go well over a track that should play into his strengths.

MEET AND GREET (best price 5/1) ran with great distinction against some of the best novices in Ireland last season and even though today’s assignment looks the unlikeliest of comeback races in some respects, hopefully Oliver McKeirnan’s gelding will have too much class for his rivals if fit.

A smooth winner of a maiden hurdle here in February, connections of the son of Mustamet decided to pitch him into the deep end of a Grade 2 contest back over the same C&D two weeks later and although he was sent of a well-backed favourite to justify the jump in class, he ultimately came up a little short. Seemingly lacking the pace of the smart Flame Bearer that day, his final destination of the season was a Grade 1 over three miles at the Punchestown Festival and despite his big odds he ran by some way a career high in staying on well to finish a never-nearer third behind The Nice Guy and Minella Cocooner.

Based on that evidence, he’s clearly more than a match for some of the best stayers around over that sort of trip, but with a tempting mark of 142 there to be exploited before he goes back against graded company, you can see why connections are willing to roll the dice over 2m4f and have a pop at this decent prize beforehand.

TEA FOR FREE (NAP) (best price 13/8) won with a good deal of authority over today’s course last time out and even though the handicapper has tried his best to readdress the balance, Charlie Longsdon’s gelding is likely to have the last laugh.

A ready winner on his chasing on his final start of last season, the seven-year-old was well backed to defy 162-days off the track at the Midland venue and after getting into a lovely rhythm right from the outset, never gave his supporters too many anxious moments.

Posting the fastest overall time figure on the card, it’s also worth noting he ran the last circuit quicker than the now 137 rated Kinondo Kwetu, so based on those numbers, there’s a good chance the son of Court Cave has still a sufficient enough buffering to be equally effective in this higher grade.

Another typically wide-open Paddy Power Chase for punters to get their teeth stuck into, but whichever way you strip it down, it’s hard to see STOLEN SILVER (best price 11/2) not figuring prominently in a race that has been his primary target for some time.

Not quite good enough for Edwardstone & Co at Grade 1 level at Sandown last season, Sam Thomas’ gelding proved much more comfortable in slightly less taxing company on his three subsequent outings of the campaign and following a perfectly satisfactory display behind Coole Cody here at the festival, he gained his due rewards in a quality heat at the final meeting.

Appreciating the better ground that day, the son of Lord Du Sud impressed with the way he jumped and travelled before bounding up the hill and with that victory likely to harbour plenty of happy memories when he returns to Prestbury Park this afternoon, he can keep up his decent record of going well fresh.

BARENBOIM (best price 3/1) arrives here right on top of his game and with the distinct possibility of even more to come over tonight’s extra two furlongs, David O’Meara’s gelding is strongly fancied to keep the ball rolling.

An easy winner at Newcastle three starts ago, the son of Golden Horn was unlucky not to add to that victory back over the same C&D next time, a slow pace catching him out, but predictably he was able to bounce back in the right direction at Chelmsford last time.

Once again held up towards the rear, the four-year-old was noted going extremely well as the field turned for home and despite giving his supporters palpitations throughout the final two furlongs, he managed to find the necessary gaps in time to get up in the dying strides. Clearly much better than the bare result suggests from the Essex venue, he now runs over a track for the first time that often complements horses who can be delivered late and with seemingly no shortage of pace signed up here this evening, all he will need is just a bit of luck in running to go in again.