Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

GABRIEL’S GETAWAY (best price 11/4) impressed on many levels when scoring in tidy fashion on chase debut at Taunton yesterday and providing he’s in the same sort of shape 24 hours on from that breakthrough performance, Anthony Honeyball’s gelding has a golden opportunity to follow up. 

Mildly promising without upsetting the judge on three races over hurdles, the son of getaway had his attentions switched to the larger obstacles at the West Country track to see whether they would bring about the necessary improvement and on the evidence of what transpired, the answer was very much in the affirmative. 

Always travelling and jumping well in what looked a competitive novices handicap chase on paper, the six-year-old loomed up alongside the leaders at the second last and with the minimum of effort, he proceeded to pull clear of his rivals from that point onwards. 

Seemingly winning with any amount in hand, connections will no doubt be keen to strike while the iron is hot with a chaser of some promise and other than top weight and C&D winner, Here We Have It, today’s contest looks well within his range. 

A tight little five-runner fillies’ handicap, but GOLDEN MAYFLOWER (NAP) (best price 7/4) showed enough at Lingfield last time out to suggest she’s the answer to breaking the code. 

A rare first time out winner for her stable back in 2012, Amy Murphy’s filly following that effort up with an equally smart display in defeat over tonight’s C&D next time out, but since then, she’s rather headed in the wrong direction. 

The main reason for her demise can be put down to her troublesome wind issues, but following her second bout of surgery to correct matters, she looks to have come out the other side a better model. 

Last turning for home at the Surrey venue, the daughter of Golden Horn impressed with the turn of foot she displayed inside the final two furlongs and with an extra 50yds or so, she would have undoubtedly obliged. 

In running the last three furlongs in 33.4, she indicated all the ability still remains, so providing she can back up that effort at a track she has run well before, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t be massively competitive off her current mark (hit a peak of 83). 

STRANGER THINGS (best price 7/2) has run a good deal better than the finishing position has suggested on her last four starts and with tonight’s surface likely to provide her with the test she requires, Matt Crowley’s mare can finally make the breakthrough she deserves. 

Not receiving the rub of the green in two races at Chelmsford during the earlier part of last month, the daughter of Mukhadram was switched back to Wolverhampton in a bid to change her fortunes last time out, but unbelievably she once again met trouble in running at a vital stage. 

While the winner, Trusty Scout, enjoyed the luxury of a clear run from the back of the field, the five-year-old mare ran into a wall of horses rounding the home turn and with her momentum checked, she had insufficient time to rectify the damage. 

Clearly capable of winning a race of tonight’s nature based on recent evidence, she rates a safe bet to hit the frame at the very least.