Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CALL ME GINGER (best price 7/1) took this race 12 months ago despite meeting plenty of trouble in running and with him arriving here having supplemented his previous Chester success at Ascot last time out, confidence is high Jim Goldie’s gelding can repeat the dose. 

A good winner at Chester two starts ago, the seven-year-old chestnut was a popular choice to secure another success over a track where he’d gone well in the past and after being ridden in his usual patient fashion towards the rear in the early stages, he came through strongest of all late on to scoop the valuable prize.

In doing so, his speed figure he posted was right up there with one of the best of his career and with conditions almost identical to what they were when he caused a surprise in this race last year, the shock factor wouldn’t be so huge this time around. 

FIRST IMPRESSION (best price 5/1) ran out a ready winner over today’s C&D on his first run after a 90-day break last time out and with another reasonable paused in proceedings likely to reap similar rewards, John Quinn’s inmate deserves to be played accordingly. 

Electing to sit just off the speed in a race run at a modest tempo, the son of Make Believe travelled well within himself until turning for home and once asked to go and win his race from this juncture, he found the necessary change of gear in the conditions to pull nicely clear. 

Although the time figure was nothing flash, he has shown in the past he is equally home, if not better, in a more strongly run environment and with today’s race featuring several that are renown for their want to got on with things, everything should set up perfectly for this strong-travelling type around a track he clearly enjoys.

DESERT HERO (best price 11/2), having started this season in handicaps, would be one of the more unconventional winners of this race in recent times, but such was his victory in this sort of company at Goodwood last time out, he must be taken seriously at the very highest level. 

Disappointing when down the field in the London Gold Cup at Newbury on his opening gambit this term, the son of Sea The Stars was about as far off Classic glory as you could imagine at that point, but his subsequent victory in the King George VI Handicap at Royal Ascot, totally changed the pathway for which he now treads. 

Upped in class for his latest encounter at the Sussex venue 44 days ago, he was given a confident ride by Tom Marquand and after biding his time towards the rear of the field through the first half of the contest, he delivered his mount to land a knockout blow close home. 

Posting a smart speed figure that day, he proved that he not only has the required stamina for a well-run contest, but he also further enhanced his record on soft ground to 3-3 and although he goes into unknown territory regards the trip, he shapes like he will improve for the step up to 1m6f for the first time.
 

SIGN FROM ABOVE (NAP) (best price 9/4) hasn’t quite got his act together yet over hurdles but following a fruitful run of results on the Flat, Peter Fahey’s inmate can return to the winter game with a clean slate and enough confidence to floor favourite Arabian Diamond. 

Fourth in a hot maiden hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas fixture last season, things looked bright for the five-year-old at that juncture but for some reason or another he hasn’t quite built on that effort behind several smart types and instead he remains winless in his new vocation. 

One of the main reasons why he hasn’t fulfilled his promise yet could have been to do with the fact his yard struggle for winners during large periods of last season, but now with his handler firing on all cylinders, he can readdress the balance hot on the heels of a convincing display at Galway last time out. 

DIVINE LIBRA (best price 3/1) just got touched off in the grey’s race at Newmarket last time out, but it was another run to suggest Charles Hill’s filly remains in excellent heart and having landed a very competitive contest under similar conditions to what she faces today here earlier in the campaign, there is a decent chance she can add to her tally on her return visit. 

Having to make the running at HQ probably wasn’t the ideal scenario as it panned out 28 days ago but despite expending energy she desperately needed for the climb up hill to the line, she did well to hang tough when challenged on the run to the line. 

Settling for an honourable second on that occasion, she now returns to the scene of her best speed figure and with the chance to take a lead off the likes of Kodi Red and Glorious Angel surely too good an opportunity to miss, the daughter of dark Angel can swoop to conquer late in the piece rather than having to row her own boat. 

LA TRINIDAD (best price 12/1) ran much better than the bare form suggests at York last time out and with a return to a C&D which last saw him successful seen as a plus, Roger Fell & Shaun Murray’s inmate is fancied to play a more significant role than he did 23 days ago.

Drawn out wide on the Knavesmire, the six-year-old compounded matters by being very slowly in stride and that meant he was vying for last place as the field entered the home straight.

He did, however, make up a noticeable amount of ground in the latter stages and considering he didn’t get the clearest of runs either, his effort warranted marking up. 

Due to his perpetually slow starts, he is likely to be in the rear early again here today but as their looks to be plenty of pace on, there is every chance he will pick up the pieces and be competitive in the second half of the contest.