Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

WHAT PATH (best price 9/2) left the impression he really ought to have stayed unbeaten over hurdles at Galway last time out and even though he doesn’t appear to be the yard’s number one based on jockey arrangements, Willie Mullins’ inmate is good enough to take away stable bragging rights.

Impressive on his two previous outings over three miles, the six-year-old was allowed to drop back in trip for his most recent start at the Galway festival and although he just came up a little short on the day, there was certainly no shame in getting narrowly beaten by the useful The Big Doyen.

Moreover, had he not suffered interference at a crucial stage it might well have been a different story and with today’s testing conditions set to put more emphasis on stamina, this future chasing prospect can more than hold his own.

CANOODLED (best price 5/1) gave herself little chance of success at Haydock last time due to another poor start but with today’s step up in trip and track providing more of an opportunity to make up any potential ground forfeited, Ed Walker’s mare can make amends.

Although she recorded a smart victory at Newmarket over seven furlongs previously, a sharper, turning course the Merseyside venue provides always had the potential to catch her out and so it proved. Immediately on the back foot, the daughter of Mehmas turned for home with only behind her but despite this impost, she still managed to salvage something from the wreckage by running on strongly in the closing stages to snatch third.

Back to the scene of many of her best previous performances, as form figures at HQ of 124131 testify, the five-year-old can maintain the fine recent run of his handler.

STROMBERG (best price 3/1) has created a very favourable impression on his last two starts and although they may have been at a significantly lower level than what he faces here today, he looks the type who should have little trouble bridging the gap to pattern company.

A promising runner-up on his debut at Leopardstown, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate probably didn’t have to improve a great deal to brush aside modest opposition at Galway next time, but it was the way in which he quickened late on that really caught the eye.

Exhibiting the same turn of foot to land similar odds at Roscommon last time out, he arrives here as one of the most exciting juveniles on show and with the size and scope to be even better as a three-year-old, today’s performance should be nice precursor to what’s to come further down the line.

MUSTAZEED (best price 5/1) was unsuited by how the race panned out at Sandown last time out, but with a return his favourite venue and plenty of give underfoot seen as two positives for his prospects, Harry Eustace’s gelding can rebound back in the right direction.

A perennial slow starter, a steadily run race at the Esher ended up being an insufficient test and although he did make some belated late headway to rescue total embarrassment, he could never work himself into apposition whereby he was a challenger.

Better judged on his two previous victories over today’s C&D, it’s clear this more galloping track gives him more chance of making up any potential lose leeway and with testing conditions likely to suit him more than most, the five-year-old makes quite a bit of each-way appeal providing all eight runners remain.

A typically wide-open Ayr Gold Cup and of the many with plausible claims of scooping the prize, SIGNIFICANTLY (best price 10/1) appears to have more going for him than most.

 Seemingly back to form since joining his new yard, Julie Camcho’s inmate has yet to put in a bad shift in five starts this season and following a victory at Haydock back in June, he has gone on to carry himself with distinction in three top-quality Class 2 handicaps. Undone by heavy ground in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood two starts ago, he needed only a few more strides and he would have landed the Portland handicap at Doncaster last week.

On the evidence of that solid effort, a return to six-furlongs for the son of Garswood is a welcome addition and based on yesterday’s Bronze Cup, being drawn right down the middle in stall 14 is no bad thing.

WESTERN’s (best price 33/1) claims of going well at a big price might not look that obvious at first glance, but when you take into account the speed figure he posted when finishing third in an above-average novice event at Ascot last time out, he may end up running a good deal better than his odds suggest.

Only beaten two lengths on debut at the Berkshire venue despite finishing last of five, Richard Hannon’s inmate returned to the scene of that fair starting point in a bid to make a bit more of an impact and so it proved, as he kept on well in the closing stages to finish an honourable third behind all-the-way winner, Miss Information.

Although the winner was only rated 74 at the time, the numbers she posted belied her lowly status and it is probably best to judge the form around the fifth and sixth, who were 88 and 84 respectively. Just to add ballast to the form, the ninth horse (Call Time) – the first one to run out of the race since – went on to outrun his 200-1 odds at Newbury yesterday, and with the son of Magna Grecia finishing 28 lengths ahead of him 15 days ago, it puts in some context what he actually achieved.

Bred to stay at least a mile, today’s stiff seven furlongs should prove ideal and having already proven he can handle plenty of give underfoot, he looks to be seriously underestimated in the market.

SHREWSBURY ROAD (best price 5/1) exhibited a fair degree of ability on just his second start so far to date over today’s C&D last time out and with the subsequent performances of all those around him suggesting it was a decent race of its kind (second, third and fourth all won next time), a dip back into slightly less choppy waters could result in John Murphy’s inmate being the joker of the pack.

Only mildly promising on his opening bow towards the backend of last season, it was understandable why the son of Sea The Stars was sent off as one of the outsiders in what looked a decent maiden on paper here two months ago, but despite facing a seemingly stiff task, he turned out to be one of the surprise packages.

With just two behind him and around ten lengths off the pace at the Co Kildare venue, he finished off his race best of all and although he failed to make impact on the main players, it was an effort to suggest he would be a different proposition next time.