Andy Holding is back with three tips from today's action.
15:15 Sandown
YOUTHFUL KING (best price 11/2) totally dominated a strong Class 4 event at Windsor last time out and having executed similar tactics to good effect over today’s C&D last season, a chance is taken on Luke Dace’s gelding repeating the dose on his return to the Esher track.
Having set reasonable fractions through the early part of the race at the Berkshire venue, the four-year-old stacked his rivals up heading passed the intersection and from that point he stretched out in impressive fashion all the way to the line.
In handing out a cosy three length victory, he posted a career high figure on the numbers and even though today’s will require a run of a similar stature or even a shade more, the son of Fountain Of Youth has ideal conditions and previous track form to call on to help him in his quest.
17:40 Fairyhouse
SHE’S LOCAL (best price 12/1) endured a nightmare passage down the home straight over today’s C&D last time out and she is worth a small interest to back up the view she may have been involved in the finish with a clearer run.
Dwelling leaving the stalls, Noel Meade’s filly was still in last place as the field turned for home but despite being stopped in her tracks on several occasions inside the final two furlongs, she managed to finish in a respectable position just behind the main players.
Obviously, she can ill afford to be sleepwalking as the gates open on her return to the Co Meath venue, but in the hope gets away relatively on terms, she clearly has enough ability on the evidence of her latest exploits to feature.
19:35 Aintree
Father Of Jazz is improving at a rapid rate of knots and could easily prove good enough to complete a hat trick, but in the shape of HURRICANE ALI (best price 10/3), he faces an opponent who can handle himself pretty well at this level and, following a back-to-form run at Warwick last time out, John Mackie’s inmate should be at fever pitch in his bid to repeat last year’s success.
A seven-year-old who is campaigned exclusively on decent ground nowadays, he left behind an uncharacteristically poor run in the Swinton Hurdle with his effort at the Midland venue 23 days ago where he stayed on strongly in the latter stages to force a three-way photo with in-form pair, Glorious Zoff and Coolnaugh Haze.
With the winner unlucky not to go in again at Bangor last weekend (fell at the last when in control), it is safe to say the form looks reliable and with conditions once again right in his wheelhouse, anything other than a prominent display has to go down as a disappointment.
