Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

RARE MIDDLETON (best price 6/1) left the impression he scored with way more in hand than the official margin suggested on his hurdling debut at Taunton and with the likelihood of a good deal of improvement to come in all departments, a chance is taken on Paul Nicholls’ gelding making the step up to Graded company a seamless one. 

A progressive type on the Flat for Andrew Oliver, new connections had to go to 215k to gain his services following a gutsy victory at Leopardstown towards the backend of last season and while we had to wait a while to see whether their investment was a wise bit of business, his opening gambit suggested he will more than pay his way during his new vocation.

Always travelling strongly at the West Country venue, the son of Aclaim eased his way into the lead after the last and without being subject to a hard ride, he readily got the job done. Although not setting the world with his overall time figure, it’s worth pointing out he ran the final circuit seven seconds than his stable mate Afadil, who landed the second division of the same maiden hurdle half an hour later. 

A scopey three-year-old with a touch of quality about him, today’s better ground than he encountered first time out is bound to suit and at the morning odds, he makes plenty of appeal from an each-way stance. 

Connections of DIDEROT (best price 7/2) must have been thoroughly delighted with the way the son of Bated Breath performed on his first outing following a 230-day break at Southwell last time out and with that run likely to have brought him on significantly in terms of sharpness, he’s fancied to prove equally effective in this higher grade. 

In what looked a viciously competitive mile handicap on paper beforehand, you could think of easier options for James Ferguson’s gelding to return to the fray, but despite the race at the Midland venue being run at a blistering pace, he wasn’t found out in any way.

Answering every call, the five-year-old only found one too good on the day, but with that performance good enough to earn him a career high speed figure, confidence is high he can carry that accolade forward back to a C&D where he’s gone well in the past. 

A cracking renewal of this valuable prize and SAINT CALVADOS (best price 7/1), a proper class act of his day, will hopefully find the opportunity to race against slightly easier opposition than he has done in recent times, one he doesn’t squander in a rush.

Since beaten by a short head in the 2020 Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham, the son of Saint Des Saints has dined at the very top table and of the performances he’s put up in Grade 1 and 2 company since, two of his best efforts have come around today’s C&D in the King George. 

A creditable fourth to stable mate Frodon three years ago, he managed one place better on his return to the Sunbury venue the following season and since then, he’s been very lightly raced.

Really good in the hands of today’s pilot on good ground towards the end of last season at Sandown, Paul Nicholl’s stable jockey reunites with his old pal due to his owner being out injured and with that set of circumstances seen as a massive plus towards his chance, the 10-year-old is likely to prove he still has plenty to offer back in handicap company. 

BELLS OF PETERBORO (best price 14/1) found the rigours of a top-quality Class 1 Sandown handicap last time out to hot to handle but now back at a more realistic level at a track where he’s enjoyed some of his better days over the years, Tim Vaughan’s grey has brighter prospects of being competitive than his morning odds suggest.

Presumably sent to the Esher venue with a view of qualifying for the Pertemps Final at the Festival l, it looked as though he was going to achieve his goal on the run down to the last but unfortunately, he just ran out of petrol in the long run uphill to the line and he ended up finishing just outside the requirements of the top four.

Back among more familiar surroundings, the son of Carlotamix has a record at the Welsh venue that reads 11532 and with today’s contest being the very last chance of booking his ticket to Cheltenham next month, you can bet your bottom dollar he will be all out to seal his place at the last chance saloon.

IMPERIAL BEDE (best price 7/1) impressed both visually and, on the clock, when announcing himself as a fine prospect at Huntingdon last time out and with connections wasting no time in immediately raising his sights, the hint deserves to be followed accordingly.  

Entitled to need the run against race-fit opposition on his first start for 236-days at Leicester back in December, Jonjo O’Neill’s inmate kept on well to finish a respectable third despite being sent off 25-1. Nothing like that price on his latest outing at the Cambridgeshire venue, the son of Robin Du Nord went through what turned out to be a well-run race in the style of a useful novice and when asked for his effort in the closing stages, he readily found plenty for hands and heels assistance. 

Still a work in progress on the evidence of both those two starts, the five-year-old seems to be settling better in his races now and with the likelihood of decent pace going a long way to help him in that department, today’s the day he’s expected to come of age. 

Not much margin for error in this tightly-knit two-mile handicap chase and of the five who hold every chance of succeeding based on the pick of their best form, DESTINED TO SHINE (best price 10/3) makes the most appeal at the morning odds.

A largely consistent type since sent over fences, Kerry Lee’s gelding signed off last season with smart performance over today’s C&D and it looked for good size portion of his most recent effort at Wetherby that he was going to carry on where he left off. 

Unfortunately, his lack of a run after a 322 told in the latter stages and he ended up having to play second fiddle to the race-fit Richmond Lake, but as the time figure revealed he’d run to a career-high level in defeat, his performance deserved more praise than it did at first glance. 

Back to the Welsh venue with the cobwebs hopefully well and truly blown away, the 11-year-old has a decent chance of winning this race for the second season in succession.