Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

TOTNES (best price 7/2) has been a model of consistency since joining the landing a novice event at Wolverhampton back in the Spring and on the evidence of her most recent effort, she is holding her form well enough to suggest her winning run isn’t quite done for the season.

Up against several improving types alongside many older, established performers at Newbury two weeks ago, Andrew Balding’s inmate only found one too good in the shape of Balance Play. Keeping on well in the latter stages, she proved just how versatile she is regarding ground conditions and with the speed figure backing up the view she had run to a career high, the daughter of Kingman rates a confident choice to give it another good lash.

QUEEN EMMA (NAP) (best price 11/4) has been gradually improving with each run and with the data from her latest encounter at Doncaster backing up that view, William Haggas’ filly can continue her progress up the ranks.

Heading into her latest assignment on Town Moor following two impressive victories, the daughter of Saxon Warrior was fancied in many quarters to complete the hat trick and although she couldn’t quite get the job done, there was certainly no shame in finishing an honourable runner-up to the well-ridden Mistressofillusion. The way the race panned out certainly favoured being at the head of affairs but as she came out a clear second best and ahead of the likes of previous winners Cherry and There’s The Door, her performance deserved extra merit.

Prior to that career-high effort, she had lowered the colours of two subsequent winners, Mamara Sea and Madame Ambassador and with the general feeling she could be good enough to step into pattern company sooner rather than later, even her revised mark of 89 still might have her underestimated.

PEARLE D’OR (best price 18/1) has really found his sweet spot in the last few months and following another convincing display at Newbury last time out, David O’Meara’s chestnut can enhance his already useful record at today’s track.

Switched off in typically patient fashion at the Berkshire venue, he still looked to have plenty left on his plate with two furlongs to run, but with a sweeping manoeuvre down the centre of the track, he picked off the front runners with a sustained run that enabled him to pull nicely clear late on.

Showing a similar turn of foot to land a competitive handicap over today’s C&D back in July, the son of Starspangledbanner returns to the scene of that breakthrough success full of confidence and ready to take his career to another level. Whether stall nine ends up being favourable remains to be seen, but either way, the reward at the morning odds far outweighs the risk.

SARAQAEL’s (best price 14/1) undesirable form figures seem rather off-putting at first glance but a closer inspection of his latest effort at Galway tells a different story and at the morning odds, Peter Fahey’s gelding is well worth a small each-way interest.  

A winner on the Flat for previous connections, as is often the case with three-year-olds, he struggled to adapt to juvenile hurdling during last season, but there was certainly more encouragement to be gleaned from his latest exploits. On the sharp end of a well-run affair, the son of Dark Angel held every chance as the field met the rising ground, but it was from this point he couldn’t quite go with the main players, and he ended up fizzling out of contention.

Despite getting beaten 11 lengths, his time figure, however, suggested he was heavily involved in quite a warm little heat and with the likes of Gold Speed, Bythesamtoken and Bal de Rio all going on to prove the value of the form since, he might just turn out to be the joker in the pack hailing from his in-form stable.

RON O (best price 7/1) has clicked into gear just at the right time for the final of this series and a repeat of either of his last two starts should see another bold display from Ray Cragg’s inmate.

The way he disposed of a competitive field over today’s C&D two months ago was in stark contrast to his previous effort and although he failed in his bid to follow up here last time, it was certainly no shame to get beaten by an improving three-year-old in the shape of Forceful Speed.

Indeed, not only has his conqueror gone on to score again since, the third and fourth have both gone on to advertise the form next time and with today’s race likely to be run at a strong pace, he has the perfect set-up to maintain his current track figures of 2112.

MINNETONKA (best price 11/4) had to be marked down as a desperately unlucky loser at Newmarket last time out and with connections keen to get her out again while the fire still burns bright, Richard Hannon’s filly can add to her previous C&D success three runs previous.

Sent into battle against a field on in-form fillies at HQ, the daughter of Kingman soon found herself in an uncompromising position due to a tardy start, but by the business end she was right back in the thick of the action and with a clearer run she may have even claimed the prize.

Prior to that eye-catching performance, the three-year-old won in the style of an improving filly on her first start over tonight’s track and a return to the Dunstall Park venue looks to be a wise move by connections.