Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

As Harry Fry once again proved in the Chester Cup yesterday, he is a pretty shrewd cookie when it comes to having a project on the Flat, and even though there is a chance HIGH FIBRE (best price 5/1) might have a certain day in June as his main target rather than today, a chance is still taken he can go well on-route to a possible tilt at one of the handicaps at the Royal meeting. 

A promising two-year-old when in the care of Ralph Beckett, he looked as though he was poised to have a fruitful 2022 based on his opening gambit at Newmarket last season but after picking up an injury, he was left to sit the rest of the campaign on the side lines. 

Sent to his new jumps base with a view to have a career over hurdles, the son of Vadamos also had to miss out on a juvenile campaign that would have presumably culminated in the Triumph, but that now means he can concentrate on what he knows best and today looks a decent starting point on his long road back. 

On the evidence of when we last saw him in action on the Rowley Mile, he had the look of a well handicapped horse and providing he is somewhere close to peak fitness on his first outing for just over a year, the lightly raced gelding can remind us of potential he harbours. 

A typically competitive renewal of one of the trickiest-to-solve handicaps of the season but, using the tried-and-trusted formula of Ascot form being king in races of this nature, FRESH (best price 9/1) and TOTALLY CHARMING (best price 6/1) are worth taking against the field.

The former could almost walk himself to the Berkshire venue from his Newmarket base and with virtually all his best performances in his career coming over today’s C&D, he looks one of the most obvious starting points. 

Fourth in this race last season, it is probably fair to say connections have had it at the back of their minds for a while to come back and have another crack and with his most recent effort at Kempton seen as the perfect steppingstone for his preparations, James Fanshawe’s gelding should hopefully be just about spot on. 

Staying on nicely over six furlongs at the Sunbury venue, he now reverts to his optimum trip and with a whole host of good performances of soft ground under his belt, the evergreen six-year-old can go well again from his ideal middle draw.

The latter, too, has a decent pitch right down the centre and he comes into the reckoning on several counts. Firstly, he shaped as though the run would have done him the world of good in the Irish Lincoln on his seasonal bow and secondly, the ground has come in his favour just at the right time. 

A smooth winner over one of today’s main rivals, Bopero, at Doncaster under similar conditions towards the backend of last season, George Boughey’s gelding is fancied to do a good bit better than his ninth-place finish in the Hunt Cup (unsuited by firm ground) on his only other previous visit to the Berkshire track. 

There looks to be tons of pace signed-on here with the likes of Brentford Hope, Aucunrisque and Parramount, all confirmed trailblazers, so with that in mind, it might pay to side with something who can be ridden just off the speed and, of those in that category, PARISENCORE (best price 20/1) fits the bill quite neatly.

A hugely consistent performer since joining the hurdling ranks – his only poor run coming in last season’s Gerry Fielden – Nicky Richards’ gelding has since gone on to finish runner-up in valuable and competitive, top-class handicap at Musselburgh and then 77 days after, fourth in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Although he never looked like winning at the Scottish track, he impressed with the way he battled on bravely all the way to the line and with today’s slight ease in grade likely to prove a more realistic arena to play in, he rates a decent each-way proposition at the morning prices.

DASHO LENNIE (best price 7/2) had the misfortune to bump into a useful newcomer making his debut at Yarmouth last time out, but despite that defeat, he still makes plenty of appeal on his handicap bow off what appears a reasonable mark. 

A good winner on his previous start at Lingfield, Shaun Woods’ inmate was strongly fancied to follow up in a similar novices’ event at the seaside venue, but unfortunately, having to use up plenty of petrol in the early stages from a wide draw meant he did not have enough left in the locker to repel an above average sort in the final quarter of a mile. 

That said, the time figure he helped generate suggested he had still run to a decent level and with his ability to handle soft ground also proven, everything looks set fair for him to get back on track with a more conservative ride. 

AL MUBHIR (NAP) (best price 7/4) regained the winning theme in decisive fashion at Leicester last time out and although today’s race will require another step forward from William Haggas’ inmate, there is more than a fair possibility he will prove equal to the task.

A strongly backed favourite for the Lincoln handicap on the first day of the season, the son of Frankel failed to live up to expectations, but in a smaller, less competitive environment at the Midlands’ venue later in the month, he went on to prove why he was such a warm order on Town Moor.

In a race run at a decent clip courtesy of the front-running antics of WobWobWob, the four-year-old chestnut has no difficulty travelling well in behind the speed and when asked to go and gather in the leader at the two-furlong pole, he swept on by before pulling well clear in the closing stages.

Posting a rapid time figure 14 days ago, he clearly arrives here in peak form and having already proven himself around today’s track in the past, another positive display should be forthcoming.