Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ROHAAN’s (best price 5/1) form figures this season don’t look too clever but he did run a good deal better than the bare result suggests at Ascot last time out and with the forecast rain set to work in his favour, David Evans’ gelding can better his fourth-place finish in this race last year.

Unable to make any impression on genuine fast ground on his first two starts of the season, the easing of the ground at the Berkshire venue seven days ago sparked an interest with the betting public in anticipation of a more positive outcome and although he failed in his bid to justify decent market support, he finished his race off well enough to keep him in the tracker for next time.

Looking the most likely winner here twelve months ago when he swept to the front inside the final furlong, he couldn’t quite sustain the run all the way to the line on the quick surface but with the strong possibility of more suitable conditions being in place come midway through today’s card, the son of Mayson rates a confident choice to be in the mix again.

AND THE NEW (best price 10/1) has really come alive of late since sporting the tongue-tie/cheekpiece combination and with his victory over today’s C&D a big part of that transformation, Laura Mongan’s veteran can prove age is only just a number.

Seemingly treading water during backend of last season, connections turned to drastic measures in a bid to revive his fortunes and having made a massive breakthrough when successful on his first start at the Lincolnshire venue three starts ago, he duly followed up on his return visit 29 days ago.

Given the way he travelled before sprinting clear in the closing stages, he clearly is a horse right on top of game at present and with the speed figure he posted putting him right up there with some of the ones with more established careers over fences, the 12-year-old can confirm the form with the likes of Fix At All and Francky Du Berlais.

PYRAMID PLACE (best price 12/1) is both talented and frustrating in equal measures but, with the former trait coming to the fore more often than not, Milton Harris’ inmate is fancied to go well again at a track that suits his eye.

Always ridden with a view to pouncing late, the son of Authorized was delivered to a nicety when getting up close home over today’s C&D two starts ago, whereas he was just given too much to do at Newton Abbot last time out.

Still, he ran well enough to suggest he remains in decent shape and with the six-year-old impervious to whatever the elements throw at him, any worsening of the conditions will affect him less than most.

DUTCH DECOY (best price 5/1) almost pulled off what would have been a miraculous victory at Sandown last time out and having gone well over today’s C&D in the past, Charlie Johnston’s chestnut can readdress the balance with no draw biases to stand in his way.

Posted out 15 of 15 at the Esher track, he was always likely to asked to take his medicine in the early part of the contest and, as a result, he found himself a long way off the pace turning for home. To his great credit, however, he managed to charge by most of the field in the final three furlongs and in doing so, he posted the best finishing sectionals on the card.

Other than one below-par effort on heavy ground on his first run of the campaign, he has yet to put in a bad shift since and with the son of Dutch Art unbeaten in two previous starts, he makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.

ENTHUSED (best price 5/1) had to be considered slightly unfortunate not to land a very competitive Class 3 contest at Stratford last weekend and with today’s assignment seen as a good opportunity to make amends, James Owen’s gelding can continue the fine run of form for his yard.

Held up towards the rear at the Midland track, the six-year-old was noted still going well coming out of the abck straight but it was from that point where his race was lost. While the winner, Aliomaana, had a lovely clear run at the head of affairs, he got stuck in behind a wall of horse and by the time he had extricated himself from the pocket, the dye was cast.

He did, however, finish his race of with plenty of purpose on the run-in and with his overall time figure and final lap splits working out coming out much better than today’s favourite, Nadim, who took the opening handicap on the same card, it makes plenty of sense to play him at over twice the price.

The weather forecast for today is more favourable for ducks, but SIR THOMAS GRESHAM (best price 13/2) is one of the exceptions in this race and he is fancied to gain due reward for his recent consistency.

Unlucky to bump into the well-treated Ozario at Acot two starts ago, Seamus Durack’s inmate was a popular choice with the punters to go one place better at Newbury when last seen but despite running to a career high on the numbers, he once again had to play second fiddle.

Unsurprisingly, given the data from the race at the Berkshire venue, though, the form has worked out well since with the likes of Popmaster, Under The Twilight and Treacherous winning since and having gone well each time the word ‘soft’ has been in the going description (1124), the son of Dutch Art has every chance of providing the remarkable Billy Loughnane with yet another winner.