Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

RAGLAN ROAD (NAP) (best price 9/4) was in the process of running a pleasing race on his debut at Limerick when he tipped up at the second last two months ago and providing he has suffered no long-lasting mental scars from that untimely exit, Henry De Bromhead’s gelding is fancied to build on that auspicious display. 

Sent off at 33-1 at the Greenmount Park venue, presumably nothing much was expected of the son of Soldier Of Fortune on his opening bow, but to see him still bang there with some sort of chance turning for home, suggests he has more ability than even his connections thought beforehand. 

Towards the rear as the field went out onto their final circuit, in-keeping with his position in the market, the five-year-old still had a stiff task on his hands halfway down the back straight, but it was from that point he really began to kick into gear. 

Making up a huge amount of ground in a short space of time, this scopey chasing type latched himself on to the coat tails of the main players approaching the second last, but due to his inexperience, he ended up departing the scene at that juncture due to over-jumping and his momentum getting him on the ground. 

Where he would have finished requires a little bit of educated guesswork, but given the impetuous he was gathering at the time, it’s not unfair to suggest he might have nicked a piece of the place prize money. Working on that basis, that would have put him just behind Willie Mullins’ highly-regarded subsequent winner In Excess, and a long way clear of two others, namely Whatcouldhavebeen and Hand Of Gold, who have also gone on to boost the form since. 

Considering how strong he was becoming in the latter stages of that race 47 days ago, today’s extra distance is likely to see him in an even better light and then when you add into the mix, he is probably going to be ridden a good deal more prominently due to his closer proximity to the top end of the market than on debut, this promising type makes plenty of appeal in all aspects. 

Not a huge amount of strength in depth in what appears a sub-standard Grade 2 and it’s a race surely well within the capabilities of ELDORADO ALLEN (best price 3/1) based on any of his three starts so far this season.

Never out of Grade 1 and 2 company since switching to fences, Joe Tizzard’s grey began the campaign with another solid performance behind Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and even though he could not get any closer to his old rival in the King George at Kempton last time out, he still acquitted himself with a decent amount of credit. 

Faring a good deal better than his main market rival today, Hitman, at the Sunbury venue, he returns to the same C&D that witnessed him beat the likes of Royal Pagaille and Clan Des Obeaux in this race last season and hailing from a stable who are just showing the green shoots of recovery after a quiet period by their standards, the grey son of Khalkevi can prove he’s not quite a done deal just yet.

BURROWS DIAMOND (best price 6/1) is a really likeable and tough mare and with trip, track and ground all set to suit her today, Sue Smith’s inmate can raise her game sufficiently to play a big part in the final outcome.

Ultimately outclassed but probably also in need of the run on her seasonal bow at listed level at Carlisle back in October, her two subsequent performances have been more in-keeping with her overall progression and following a notable victory over some useful sorts at Wetherby next time, she went on to post a career-high effort at Doncaster when last seen.

In what looked a strong race for the grade, the daughter of Diamond Boy held every chance all the way down the straight, but try as she might, she couldn’t quite repel the late burst of the rejuvenated winner, Senior Citizen, and in the end she had to settle at being a gallant bridesmaid. 

In top form this time last year, she seems to be in a similar head space based on her most recent exploits and with one of her most notable victories coming over today’s track, a return to the Midland venue should spark another positive display. 

A typically wide-open renewal of this valuable prize and given the record of the Nigel Twiston Davies runners over the years, MASTER CHEWY (best price 8/1) has to be granted more than a second glance. 

Although still yet to win a race over hurdles, that stat is a bit of a red herring of sorts because he would have landed a useful novices’ event at Ascot three starts ago but for falling at the last and, the son of Walk In The Park may have had that tumble at the back of his mind when he made a vital error at the final hurdle at Cheltenham next time.

Presented with what seemingly looked a decent opportunity on paper at Plumpton last time out, proper soft ground and the tight nature of the track counted against him in the final analysis, but that aside, there was still no shame in chasing home the smart Hansard, who has been creating a favourable impression since he arrived on these shores. 

Whether he turns out to be as well handicapped as the likes of Al Dancer, Ballyandy and Splash Of Ginge, the stable’s three winners of this race in recent times, remains to be seen, but he does have a similar profile going into the contest so he has to be worth a small interest. 

JP McManus has had several goes at winning this race since My Tent Or Yours back in 2013 to no avail, but he looks to hold a strong hand in his bid to win it again. Filey Bay rates the most intriguing and difficult to assess in equal measures but his price looks to be chalked up on trainer reputation rather than what he’s actually achieved, so he passed over in favour of ICARE ALLEN (best price 9/1), who may turn out to be the pick of the trio in the famous green and gold silks. 

Just short of top class as a juvenile, the son of Cokoriko has just had the one start so far this term and it was a run that suggested he should be competitive in plenty of big-field quality handicaps against his elders. 

Held up towards the rear early in a Grade A, 17-runner affair, the four-year-old grey ended up being the only one who made any discernible ground from the back of the field to be a factor at the business end and on that basis, his effort deserved upgrading. 

Presumably skipping last week’s big two-mile handicap at Leopardstown in order to avoid stable mate Gaelic Warrior, the decision to come here instead can hopefully reap some kind of reward.

BUBBLE DUBI (best price 9/2) has been in fairly choppy waters since sent under rules and with several of his most recent runs all eye-catching for various reasons, Stuart Edmonds’ gelding could come up trumps on his first run in handicap company. 

Not beaten too far by the likes of Rare Edition and Crambo in two useful bumpers last season, the son of Waldpark has shaped pretty well on his three starts over hurdles and when you again consider the sort of opposition he’s been encountering, it’s little wonder he’s yet to get his head in front. 

A strong-finishing runner up to the high class Tahmuras in an above-average maiden hurdle at Chepstow on his seasonal bow, he has the likes of subsequent winners, Out Of Office, Sergeant Wilson, Pembroke and General Medrano all in behind his that day and a repeat of a similar level of form would surely see him competitive off a mark of 113.