Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ANGLE LAND (best price 11-2) has been a little quiet by her usual standards, but there were signs at Nottingham last time out she may be ready to rejoin the winning ranks again and with today’s draw, track and drop down in class all seen as major positives, Robert Cowell’s mare can repeat the victory she achieved when last seen over the C&D. 

Drawn 7 of 7 at the Midland track, the four-year-old came out of the gates at such an awkward angle that she was immediately forced to race up the stands’ side fence and although she attempted to make a brave fist of the task in hand, she always looked to be fighting a losing battle against the main players who raced more in a huddle down the middle. 

That said, she kept on strongly all the way to the line and with the speed figure pointing favourably in the direction of her performance, a repeat of a similar standard of form should see her go close back on her favoured all-weather surface.  

MARALINGA (NAP) (best price 7-2) ended up facing and impossible task from his draw last time out but with today’s ballot being a good deal more kinder towards Timothy Doyle’s inmate, he looks poised to go well in his bid to provide his in-form handler with yet another winner. 

A cosy winner on the turf at Tipperary previously, the son of Footstepsinthesand was handed the coffin box right on the outside at the Co Lough venue 12 days ago and after being dropped out to give himself the best possible chance of working his way into to the race in a conservative fashion, he came through late on to finish a respectable fourth. 

Looking at the data from that extended 1m2f contest, it shows the numbers posted by the main players, including Maralinga, were on-par with the 0-102 handicap won by Slieve Binnian over the same C&D, so in mitigation, the five-year-old clearly ran a good deal better than the bare result suggested. 

Back to the scene of that excellent effort and over a trip more in keeping with his profile, a decent break from stall 3 should allow him to obtain a position whereby he can launch a potent challenge at the business end. 

TYPICAL WOMAN (best price 15-2) did well to finish second to the in-form Evening Song considering the interference she suffered in the early stages of a similar contest over tonight’s C&D last time out and with any amount of luck in running on her return visit, Ian Williams’ filly has a decent chance of gaining compensation. 

Racing prominently heading into the first corner the Sunbury venue, she ended up being the meat in the sandwich as those from either side of her converged and, as a result, she got shuffled right back through the field to sit in last place heading down the back straight.

From that point onwards, it seemed a question of damage limitation but her great credit she not worked herself into a position whereby she could go home with her head held high, there was a fleeting moment when she looked like winning. 

Granted, she does face several interesting three-year-olds for the second time in succession, but hopefully this time she ends up operating on a level playing field and with her proven stamina and knowledge of tonight’s track likely to count for plenty, the four-year-old chestnut can reward each-way support.