Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MANTRA (NAP) (best price 2/1) was not quite streetwise enough to show her true worth at Yarmouth on her debut, but at the same time she did more than enough to suggest a race like today’s could well be within her compass and she receives the vote to put her valuable experience to good use.

Sent off one of the market leaders in what looked a well-contested fillies affair at the seaside venue, her chances of justifying her 5-1 quotes soon evaporated with a slow beginning and from that point, it was a question of damage limitation.

To her ultimate credit, she salvaged plenty from the wreckage by finishing off her race to be a respectable fourth and with the time figure of the winner suggesting she would have done well to score regardless of how well she broke from the gates, her performance needs upgrading.

Drawn 10 today and with the stalls located on the stands side, a better exit from the gates would be beneficial and providing she can execute the first part of the deal, what happens in the backend of the contest will take care of itself.

A heavy fall over hurdles previously did not deter BASHFUL BOY (best price 3/1) in any way at Salisbury last week and with today’s long straight set to play into the strengths of David Pipe’s stayer, he is fancied to record a quickfire double.

Held up towards the rear 11 days ago, the seven-year-old still hand plenty of work to do at the two-furlong pole, but with a powerful late surge, he ended up passing five rivals in a very short space of time to get up close home.

Clearly in excellent heart based on the evidence of that performance, the slight rise in the ratings he acquired for landing that prize should not be enough to prevent him from winning again.

IT JUST TAKES TIME (best price 4/1) was just a little too keen for his own good over seven furlongs at York last time out, but with connections quick to jump on that fact and bring him back in trip over a course that suits his bold, attacking style, Mark Walford’s gelding can repeat his previous success at Thirsk.

Extremely well supported on the Knavesmire, the son of Power soon made his intentions known to his rivals by setting off at a decent lick and, even though there was a degree of inevitability he was going to pay for his early exertions late on, he kept on well enough to finish an honourable fourth in one of the toughest handicaps of the three-day meeting.

Very good on the clock when dishing out a four-length beating to a competitive field at the Yorkshire venue the time before, it is that performance, if repeated, that makes him such a persuasive proposition here tonight.

LORD CAPRIO (best price 2/1) arrives here in excellent shape courtesy of a victory over hurdles at Hexham over the weekend and having gone well on his two previous starts at today’s venue, the son of Lord Shanakill can keep up the fine recent run of results for his stable.

Not winning out of turn at the Borders venue based on his previous endeavours, the eight-year-old gets a chance to resume a career that was flourishing the last time he left it to one side and if it was not for the presence of Haizoom, he would be an even shorter price to do so.

Just touched off by the rallying Ghadbbaan over today’s C&D back in September, Ben Haslam’s gelding had dished out a four-length beating to similar opponents on his previous visit and providing he comes out of the stalls relatively on terms (can be slowly away), he should be extremely competitive at the business end.