Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

WHITE BIRCH (best price 5/2) shaped pretty well in an above-average maiden run at Naas on the turf earlier this month and with the distinct possibility John Murphy’s colt will have taken home valuable experiences from that initial performance, he rates a strong choice to figure more prominently at the second time of asking.

Sent off at 80/1 at the Co Kildare venue, you would have wanted at least double those odds about the son of Ulysses as he turned for home as one of the backmarkers, but to his great credit, he came home to such an effect, he managed to finish a creditable fifth of the 20-strong field. Considering the overall time figure compared to the other races on the card, he clearly ran to a pretty high standard and with just normal improvement, he looks sure to be one of the main players in this less taxing affair.

PASS ME BY (best price 7/2) made a perfectly satisfactory start to his life over fences at Worcester a month ago and with the strong possibility that he will improve for that initial outing, Richard Bandey’s gelding can make his first big mark in his new vocation.

A winner over three miles at Huntingdon over hurdles last season, there was always the possibility 2m4f was going to be on the sharp side for the son of Shirocco at the Midland venue and although he went a long way to dispel that theory, he ultimately just found one too good on the day. That said, the time figure and particularly the final circuit sectionals suggested he ran about as well as could be expected for a stayer and it comes as little surprise to see connections quickly stepping back up in trip.

A prominent racer who stays well and doesn’t mind soft ground, it would come as a surprise if he doesn’t feature heavily in the final outcome based on his overall profile.

JE T’AI PORTE (NAP) (best price 2/1) produced a career-high effort when scoring with plenty in hand over today’s C&D last week and with connections clearly keen to capitalise on her current wellbeing, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand rates a strong choice to repeat the dose. 

Previously beaten into third by tonight’s main rival, St Cianans Fire, Gavin Cromwell’s filly fared much better with the draw on her return visit five days ago and once getting to the front from a good break, she never once let her foot off the pedal. Setting strong fractions throughout, she sucked the life out of her 12 opponents by the home turn and when it became a question of just maintaining the gallop all the way to the line, she also answered that particular call.

Nicely draw again here today, certainly much off than her old rival who has been handed the dreaded outside box, the in-form four-year-old is fancied to dish up a similar display.