Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ALPINE GIRL (best price 4/1) has intimated in recent times that she might benefit from a step up in trip and with one of those examples coming over today’s course, James Fanshawe’s filly has the perfect opportunity to prove that theory correct.

Needing every yard of Salisbury’s stiff five-furlongs to gain the day back in July, the daughter of Acclamation hasn’t been quite so effective on two flatter, sharper circuits on her last two starts but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t shaped without promise either.

At Wolverhampton last time, for instance, she kept on well in the closing stages in a race where it paid to be handy and with a profile to suggest she’s the type to run her race come rain or shine, she represents the value call at the morning odds.

Whether MOONOVERCLOON (best price 6/1) would have obliged but for falling at the last here two days ago in open to debate, but either way, it was a run to suggest Matthew Smith’s gelding remains in excellent shape and with conditions identical on his return visit, he is fancied to gain compensation.

A well backed favourite to dispose of a field of useful handicappers on the second day of the harvest festival, it looked as though he had the race by the scruff of the neck as he turned for home seemingly moving the best, but joined by the equally smooth travelling Extraploation on the run down to the last, he proceeded to totally misjudge the flight and he ended depositing his rider on the rain-softened turf.

Hopefully, the son of Sea Moon has suffered no long-lasting effects from that untimely exit and if that does turn out to be the case, he has all the right weapons to put matter right.

Henry De Bromhead took this race four years ago with the unexposed Poker Party and AIN’T THAT A SHAME (NAP) (best price 11/2), who has a similar profile, can repeat the dose for the same connections.

Down the field when failing to stay the trip in last season’s Grand National, the son of Jeremy is better judged on several of his previous efforts in big-field, three-mile handicaps and a repeat of his runner-up spot in the Munster National at Limerick or fourth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown is likely see him have a large say to the outcome of this race.

Probably hitting the front too soon at the latter venue, today’s flatter, less demanding circuit should prove ideal and with a prominent run style that has often been the order of the day in this race over the years, the nine-year-old makes more appeal than most on deteriorating ground that will suit.