Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SOAMES FORSYTE (best price 9/1) went extremely close to finally getting off the mark at Beverley last time out and now returning to a track where he has shaped with plenty of promise both times, Michael Herrington’s gelding is well worth another shot at the morning odds.

Setting out to make it a proper test at the Yorkshire venue, the son of Siyonui was still in the thick of the action heading inside the final furlong and although he finally succumbed to a couple of stronger finishers, his time figure in defeat suggested he had pushed himself to the limit.

Runner-up on his first outing over today’s C&D for old connections, the four-year-old went to run a brave race behind a better standard of opponent on his debut for his current handler in a Class 4 contest on his return visit and now back at the scene of that fine display off a considerably lower mark, only stall 12 is seen as a possible negative.

BODYGROOVE (best price 13/2) left the impression he needed a much stiffer test than the one he received at Kempton last time out and with the likelihood of that scenario arising thanks to Mukha Magic being in the line-up, Richard Spencer’s inmate can be seen in a much better light.

An authoritative winner at Wolverhampton back in July, the son of Iffrraaj was one of the main fancies in a competitive handicap at the Sunbury venue a month later but in what turned out to be a slowly run, tactical affair, his position towards the rear of the field was always likely to catch him out when the main players kicked off the front.

However, he did finish his race off with plenty of purpose inside the final two furlongs and given that he was gaining on one of today’s main fancies, Solution, hand over fist late on, there is a decent chance that in a stronger run race he could turn around the form with his old rival.

MISS BLACK JACK (best price 15/2) has shaped with a good deal of promise in all three starts to date and with the latest of the trio coming via a useful effort over today’s course, a return to the Mallow venue over an extra furlong should see John O’Donoghue’s filly put up another bold show.

Only beaten four lengths by the top-class Matrika on her debut at The Curragh back in May, the daughter of Soldier’s Call ran equally well at Fairyhouse next time, just missing out on the placings by one, before going on to fill out the same position here last time.

Drawn 16 of 16 and being stuck out on a limb in the early stages, she was always rowing against the tide, but to her great credit, she kept on well in the latter stages to finish fourth to a horse who surely in destined for pattern company and with the time figure also highlighting how well she ran, her performance deserves extra merit.

Based on what she has achieved so far to date in comparison with others, there is no way she should be one of the outsiders and she deserves to be played accordingly.