Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

It’s fair to say Walk In The Brise isn’t one of Willie Mullins’ superstars and with three miles also seen as another potential barrier to derail her, a chance is taken on JAPERS JACK (best price 2/1) upsetting the applecart. 

Despite his promising first start over hurdles at Wexford, the son of Court Cave was still sent off at 50-1 against plenty of highly-regarded types at Navan last time out and although he ultimately failed to prove his position in the market was all wrong, he still managed to run way beyond expectations. 

In the firing line until not having the pace to cope with a horse who heads the market for the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas tomorrow, he kept on well enough to finish a respectable fifth and with that performance strongly suggesting he has enough ability to land a weak maiden, today’s opportunity represents that very theory in a nutshell. 

ANOTHER CRICK (best price 15/4) was really on-song when he landed this race a year ago and following two spins that would have served the purpose of putting a nice edge on Noel Williams’ gelding, it wouldn’t come as the biggest shock in the world if he were to repeat the dose. 

At one time as high as 134 in the ratings, the son of Arcadio never quite landed the big pot he threatened to do in his formative years, but on the evidence of his most recent efforts, he still retains affair amount of ability. Shaping as though in need of the run on his first start for 244 days at Kempton back in November, the 10-year-old fared much better in a hot heat for the grade at Lingfield next time and Gallic Geordie going on to fly the flag for the race at Newbury last week, the form looks as good as the numbers suggest.

Amazingly now down to 119 despite that excellent display at the Surrey venue, another big run looks on the cards with trip, ground and track in his favour. 

Whether or not you agree with Gary Moore’s statement the other day of this being “the strongest Totlworth for a while”, there can be little doubt his AUTHORIZED SPEED (NAP) (best price 13/8) holds obvious claims at a track where he’s already proven his true worth. 

Just short of the necessary requirements to cope with Facile Vega and Co in last season’s Champion Bumper, the mere fact he was in a race of that nature indicated the regard he is held in at home and although he’s yet to be campaigned at the very top table as of yet over hurdles, the two victories he’s garnered so far have purely been part of his education without going to the well. 

Despite his latest success over today’s C&D a month ago not amounting to much form wise, the numbers suggested he’d run to a higher standard that at first feared and if he can just iron out one or two of the errors that have crept into his game over his hurdles, this powerful galloper and strong stayer at the trip will be hard to beat under ideal conditions. 

Four of today’s field ran in a similar maiden over the same C&D a month ago and of the quartet, BALBOA (best price 10/3) is strongly fancied to take the biggest step forward. 

On a card that was cut short due to descending fog, it was very difficult to ascertain what was going on half the time, but even allowing for the fact visibility was at a premium, Jamie Osbourne’s gelding still caught the eye.

Green and in rear for the first three quarters of the race, the son of Mondialiste picked up in stylish fashion in the final three furlongs, so much so that his closing sectionals of 37.0 were over a second quicker than the four who finished ahead of him (winner 38.6). 

Not knocked about in any way, he will surely come on a ton both mentally and physically and with today’s smaller field putting less emphasis on track position, he’s likely to be a good deal closer to his old rivals than he was 22 days ago. 

DRILL TO DREAM (best price 9/2) is still a maiden after 13 starts, but there have been more signs of encouragement that unwanted sequence of results may come to an end since reapplied with the blinkers and, returning to the scene of one her better efforts of late, the daughter of Australia makes quite a bit of appeal in a modest race. 

Although only fourth of 12 at Wolverhampton last time out, the speed figure for the grade suggested she’d managed to run to a career high and that performance went a long way to compliment her previous run over tonight’s C&D. 

Sent for home at the two-furlong pole at the Sunbury venue, she was just worn down by Uther Pendragon in the closing stages but with the numbers once again pointing favourably in the direction of her effort and with the winner going in again since, the form looks pretty watertight. Needless to say, a run of a similar level should be good enough to see her bang in the thick of the action.