Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Trying to work out which ones of today’s field will be least affected by a hard season is half the battle in finding the winner of this popular end-of-term staying handicap and two that might fit the bill are REVELS HILL (best price 7/1) and TEA CLIPPER (best price 12/1).

The former has just had the four starts so far this campaign, all of which have exhibited a degree of improvement, and with one of them coming over today’s track, he also brings that valuable knowledge to the party.

Doing well to finish third that day after getting stopped in his tracks by an early faller, Harry Fry’s gelding has gone on to fill the frame on his next two starts and with the latest of those efforts proving he stays this sort of trip, there’s a lot to like about his chances.

The latter has yet to run at the Esher venue, which is a little off-putting, but other than that slight negative, he has perfectly sound credentials. A model of consistency in many big-field, competitive handicaps over the last two season, Tom Lacey’s gelding once again ran well in the Ultima at the Cheltenham festival despite the soft ground not being ideal and with the form of that race working out a treat since, his performance deserves to be upgraded.

Back on his favoured ground (conditions should dry out appreciably given the forecast) and off a mark to suggest he should be competitive with a clear round, the reliable eight-year-old makes plenty of each-way appeal at his double-figure quotes with many firms paying down to sixth.

MAYSONG (best price 8/1) may not be the classiest among today’s line-up, but he does arrive here in rampant form and, with the ability to handle the ground and track seen as two added extras, Amy Murphy’s inmate might just prove to be the surprise package.

The first sign he was in decent shape came when he finished a creditable third behind Harswell Duke in a hugely-competitive heat at Doncaster on the opening day of the season, easily coming out best of those who were drawn low, and he went on to prove his wellbeing with a decisive victory at Redcar last time.

Arriving on the scene travelling strongly three out, he soon picked up the running after quickening to assume command approaching the final furlong and from that point, it was just an exercise in being kept up to his work, a task he achieved with the minimum fuss.

Granted, today’s race looks a little tougher on paper, but when you consider he ran 41.5 compared to Al Mubhir’s 42.2 for the final three furlongs over the same straight mile on Town Moor a month ago and their respective overall time figures were almost identical, it makes little sense why Amy Murphy’s inmate has been chalked up eight times the price of his main market rival.

SPYCATCHER (best price 9/2) came roaring back to form with a decisive success at Thirsk last weekend and with the clock backing up the visual aspect of the performance, Karl Burke’s gelding is fancied to prove he’s equally effective in handicap company.

Just short of top class at two and three, the son of Vadamos rather lost his way last season after chasing home the mighty Highfield Princess in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes and when you consider he had the likes of Minzaal, Vadream, Garrus, Dragon Symbol and Rohaan all well beaten off that day, it’s hard to imagine he only managed to beat two horse home on his final two starts.

Gelded in the Winter and given a long time out at grass, the five-year-old returned to action at the Yorkshire venue following a 301-day break and, having travelled noticeable well throughout, he readily picked off the strongly-fancied front runner, Mount Athos, in the latter stages.

Posting both a smart speed figure and backend sectionals respectively seven days ago, in doing so he confirmed he now stays a well-run seven-furlong contest well and with today’s contest likely to be run at a true gallop given the personnel taking part, the newly-reformed character can continue his excellent start to the campaign.

Paul Nicholls looks to have a very strong hand in the concluding race of the season, but if there is to be a party pooper, it might well turn out to be CREBILLY (best price 17/2), who has some compelling form lines of his own.

Twice beaten as a short-priced favourite on his two visits to Chepstow, he didn’t seem to be an obvious candidate for a slog in the mud over the 2m4f journey of the EBF Final here last time out, but to his great credit, he kept on pretty well in the closing stages to finish an honourable sixth.

Since that attritional race 49 days ago, the likes of Inneston, Hugos New Horse, Cuthbert Dibble, Twinjets and Gaelic Park have all gone on to boost the form, so it’s safe to say his stock has risen a fair degree despite him staying in his box.

Although he is proven on heavy ground, drying conditions wouldn’t go amiss and with a cruising speed that carried him into the heat of battle in every single race he’s contested seen as a valuable commodity, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding can round off his season on a high.

The race won by the subsequently-demoted Monbeg Park at Fairyhouse has worked out extremely well so far this week and, having played pivotal roles in the outcome to that strongly-run two-mile handicap at the Co Meath venue, both RISK BELLE (best price 8/1) and HORANTZAU D’AIRY (best price 11/1) rate logical choices in this similar class contest.

The former was eventually awarded the race after been hampered by her main rival on the run-in and it was a victory that was very much in the making based on her previous exploits. Third in the hugely-competitive Boodles Handicap at the Cheltenham festival, her form earlier in the season ties in with all the best juveniles on home soil and now she’s proven she can handle the hustle and bustle of the these big-field handicaps against the older generation, it makes sense to stick with her over a trip that threatens to bring about further improvement.

The latter strictly has a bit to find with his old rival on evidence of his effort 21 days ago but, given it was his first start in handicap company, and a baptism of fire at that, he deserves to be cut a certain amount of slack.

One of the few to make any notable ground from the rear that day, he shaped like a step up in trip would suit (has run over 2m4f in the past) and hailing from a yard that could win with their stable cat here this week, Willie Mullins’ gelding is a must for the shortlist.