Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SENADO SQUARE (best price 14/1) ran a good bit better than the bare result suggests over today’s course last time out and now back on ground that allowed him to score in comfortable fashion at Naas earlier in the season, Andrew Slattery’s three-year-old has a decent chance of outrunning his morning odds.

Seemingly out of form heading into his latest encounter, the son of Mayson was soon towards the rear at the Co Kildare venue, but it was noticeable he made some good headway deep into the dying embers of the competitive five-furlong affair and it was a performance that offers up hope he may just begin to edge back in the right direction.

The way he cruised to victory on heavy ground back in March still burns bright and providing he ends up being on the right side of the draw here today (high numbers usually best on soft ground at this time of year), the chances of him having a say in the final analysis are quite high.

JUSTSHORTOFABUBBLE (NAP) (best price 5/2)arrives here having posted his fast speed figure at Uttoxeter last time out and a performance anywhere near the same level makes Grace Harris’ consistent chaser the one to beat.

As is often the case, the six-year-old was held up in the rear at the Midland venue and despite being brought with what appeared a well-timed challenge three out, he just couldn’t get by the front running Dragonfruit who kept on in determined fashion in the closing stages.

That said, it is worth mentioning the overall speed figure and final circuit sectionals were the best of the three chase races on the same card and considering one of the trio was over two miles, it puts into perspective what the son of Midnight Legend was bidding to achieve 15 days ago.

Proven on soft ground and a sound stayer at the trip, it would be disappointing if he fails to live up to expectations.

Based on current form, this sprint looks a straight shootout between SPOOF (best price 10/3) and Fantasy Master and because of the former’s slight preference for today’s minimum trip, he just receives the marginal nod.

A winner at Hamilton under similar conditions that he will face today three starts ago, his next assignment turned into a bit of a disaster when he pulled too hard for his own good at Chester. However, he returned to something close to his best at Haydock last time out by chasing home the all-the-way winner Never Dark and with the speed figure speaking very favourably of that effort four days ago, connections are fully entitled to keep the pot stirring with a similar opportunity arising.

Having raced over five furlongs extensively throughout his long career, he has become programmed to go flat out as soon as the gates crash back and with most of his best form coming on soft or heavy ground, today’s C&D – which he hasn’t visited for a while – should play into his strengths.

MISTY GREY (best price 11/2) is probably better known for his exploits over further, but he was successful the last time he raced over tonight’s trip and following an encouraging effort at Chelmsford last time out, a chance is taken on Tom Dascombe’s grey running better than his position in the market suggests.

Not good enough for the likes of Chindit and Co over a mile at Haydock two starts ago, the six-year-old returned to handicap company at the Essex venue 13 days ago and although he ultimately never landed a meaningful blow at the main players, he was noted keeping on well inside the final two furlong to finish a creditable sixth.

Numbers-wise, his performance that day point towards him running somewhere close to his best and with the form of the race in question already beginning to take shape courtesy of Kinta (finished 10th) winning at Newmarket last week, there is every chance the son of Dark Angel can follow suit over a C&D he has performed well in the past.

STARLIGHT NATION (best price 14/1) has yet to win in four starts over today’s track, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t shaped without promise and following a career high effort on the figures at Ascot last time out, a return to the Sunbury venue can yield a positive outcome.

Always up with the speed at the Berkshire venue, he helped force a pace that resulted in a very smart speed figure and the way he kept on at the finish is credit to his tenacity. A winner at Leicester earlier in the campaign, seven-furlongs appears to be his trip and off a mark that should give him license to be very competitive at this level, it’s rather surprising to see him chalked up as one of the rank outsiders.