Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

THEME TUNE (best price 9/2) has managed to win his last two race in pretty convincing fashion despite being less than fluent over his hurdles and, with a chance taken that Nick Alexander’s gelding can tidy up his act in that department, the hat trick looks a distinct possibility with a half decent round of jumping.

Shaping as though he’d improve significantly for his first start for 184 days over today’s C&D back in November, the son of Fame And Glory duly backed up that view with a convincing success at Haydock next time and it was a similar story at Newcastle two months later.

Despite making a complete rickets of the last three hurdles, the eight-year-old proved too strong for the useful Bushypark in the latter stages and considering the race was fairly slowly run, his performance arguably deserves even more praise.

Clearly a horse with a big engine who is capable of overcoming mistakes other horses of his grade would struggle to brush aside, the progressive stayer has his ideal conditions to once again run to maximum capacity.

SWITZERLAND (best price 5/1) is unlike most nine-year-old sprinters. While many would be contemplating drawing their pensions at his age, Bhupat Seemar’s gelding is bidding to go back-to-back in one of the world’s most coveted six-furlong contests and on the evidence of what we saw of him here back in January, there’s every chance he can accomplish the feat.

Returning to action after a 286-day break, the son of Speightstown travelled with his usual verve in behind the pace set by the front-running Rawy and then when asked to go and seal the deal in the straight, he readily pulled clear for a cosy success.

Given the strong pace set, it was unsurprising he ended up posting a very fast time figure and with today’s contest almost certain to be run in a similar fashion, a good break from his favourable inside draw should see him one of the big players down the stretch.

Three Northern-based winners at the Cheltenham festival suggested those based in that region have no reason to fear their Southern-based counterparts on the big stage and with the likes AUBIS WALK (best price 6/1) and Ruby Island seemingly holding strong claims on the pick of their form, the former receives the slight vote over her neighbour to back up that thought process.

Strongly fancied to make a winning return to action at Kelso back in December, only lack of a previous run was to blame for her narrow-margin defeat but she was soon back on track at Sedgefield last time out, dished out a sound beating to some useful Northern mares.

Despite idling and running green late on, Nicky Richards’ inmate still had 23 lengths to spare at the line and with the speed figure going along way to suggest she put in quite a classy effort, she now has the chance to take her game to another level.

THEREISNODOUBT (best price 11/2) just got going a bit too late in his bid to reel in the front-running Stainsby Girl at Newcastle last time out, but it was another run that suggested Lucinda Russell’s gelding remains in good form and he’s worth keeping on side while that notion burns bright.

Yet to put in a bad shift in all six races so far this term, the son of Primary was well-backed to back up his Kelso victory earlier this season and if it wasn’t for the pack totally disregarding the front runner at the Gosforth Park venue, he may well have obliged.

The way he finished off his race, however, strongly hinted he still has plenty left to offer for the forthcoming months and with today’s likely testing conditions seen as a big positive in terms of his chance, the 10-year-old looks to have a fine opportunity to add to his trainer’s excellent record at the North Wales venue.

An absolute minefield for punters with a good degree of guesswork attached to predicting those in the 27-strong field who won’t lack for fitness under today’s testing conditions, but based on his overall profile, there’s a decent chance EMPORIO (best price 10/1) will be better equipped than most and for that reason, he rates a reasonably confident vote to be involved in some way.

A creditable sixth in 2021 Irish 2000 Guineas, Donnacha O’Brien’s gelding has by and large been fairly consistent since and when he gets his favoured soft underfoot conditions, that’s when he usually comes to town.

Fourth in one of Ireland’s most competitive handicaps of last season at Leopardstown towards the backend, the son of Zoffany only found one to good in the shape of the smart Power Under Me in a listed contest back at the same track next time. Well-backed to go one place better against similar opposition at Naas on his final start of the campaign, the five-year-old just got undone by a poor track position at the Co Kildare venue, but even so, his effort in chasing home the more positively ridden Cosmic Vega still reads well in the context of today’s race.

A winner of his first start last season, he clearly goes well fresh and with stats of 251 at today’s track and a lover of testing conditions, it’s hard to see him not going well providing he ends up being on the right side of the draw (Traditionally, they usually come down the middle).