Following two winners yesterday, Andy Holding is back with four tips for today's action.
14:20 Musselburgh
Hold Onto The Line looks the most progressive on the quartet on recent evidence, but he has been off the track for 100 days, so with that in mind, DIAMOND STATE (best price 4/1) is taken to capitalise on the possible fitness edge he might have over the favourite.
A regular at the Scottish venue, Lucinda Russell’s gelding has managed to add one chase victory to go with his two over hurdles at today’s track and although he’s failed to push the win column forward in his last two outings, the class of the opposition he faced meant he was always likely to struggle.
Still managing to run respectably over the C&D despite being knee deep in a hot Class 3 contest on trials day here a month ago, the son of Vision D’Etat now finds himself back at a level he should be more comfortable and when you add into the mix the fact he easily beat one of today’s rivals, Cartonne, when you analyse their final circuit times from three weeks ago, it makes sense to play him in both the win and without the favourite markets.
19:00 Kempton
PAPA STOUR (best price 9/2) hasn’t cut much ice on his last two starts but, with tonight’s contest seen as a significant step down in class for Stuart Williams’ gelding, he might be capable of rolling back the years.
Never competitive in a quality Class 3 event with unfamiliar surroundings at Southwell last time out, the son of Scat Daddy is better judged on his performance at tonight’s Sunbury venue the time before.
Held up towards the rear in the early stages, the eight-year-old only two behind him as the field turned for home, but to his credit, he did make up quite a bit of ground in last two furlongs to finish a never-nearer fifth and with the time figure of the race coming out very favourably, you’d have to say if was a fair effort in the context of tonight’s contest.
A dual winner around this time last year at tonight’s track in Class 3 and 2 company, he now gets the chance to go down another for the first time for a while and with him seen as being just as effective over seven-furlongs as he is over six, a good break and early position from trap 1 should see the veteran competitive at the business end.
20:00 Kempton
BLUENOSE BELLE (best price 3/1) has really stepped forward since the combination of cheekpieces and racing at tonight’s track have been implemented and following another solid performance at the Sunbury venue last time out, Richard Philip’s mare rates a strong choice to go well again.
A promising fourth behind in-form Buxted Too on her first start over the C&D since fitted with the new headgear, she didn’t have to wait too long for a more positive result and even though it was slightly disappointing she couldn’t add to her winning tally on her return visit next time, it’s fair to say she did very little wrong in defeat.
A smooth traveller through her races, David Probert should be able to put the daughter of Noble Mission where he wants and with strong possibility of her going as well as anything approaching the cutaway, hopefully she will have enough in the locker this time to scamper away from her rivals.
