Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Arguably, the best novices’ handicap chase run so far this season – and there have been quite a few good ones – was the one won by INCH HOUSE (NAP) (best price 13/8) over today’s C&D at the previous meeting and with everything pretty much in place for Jonjo O’Neill’s inmate on his return visit, him repeating the dose is a very strong possibility. 

Promising on his chase debut at Chepstow, the six-year-old was expected to make significant improvement in all departments and in what proved to be a keenly contested affair, he proved equal to the task. Always travelling and jumping well at the Berkshire venue, the son of Ocovango picked up the running two out and from that juncture he steadily pulled clear of a strong field.

Lightly raced and open to any amount of improvement, he comes across as just the type who could easily take much higher rank as the season progresses and providing he can pass today’s test with flying colours, dreams of following in the footsteps of stable mate Monbeg Genuis down the Ultima Chase route come closer to reality.

HANSARD (best price 5/1) must have pleased connections with his opening salvo of the season at Wincanton last month and with that solid effort easily representing one of the strongest pieces of form coming into today’s contest, Gary Moore’s inmate has a decent chance of defying top weight.

A little keen due to freshness in the early stages at the west country track, the five-year-old still held every chance going well enough turning for home but up against the race fit Rubaud, he couldn’t quite match Paul Nicholls’ improver in the latter stages. That said, he still did more than enough to suggest a bright season lies ahead and if repeating the same form that allowed him to finish a close-up fourth in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last term, he should be good enough to hit the frame at the very least.

Tradition has it that second season chasers usually fare best in the first big staying chase of the campaign and COMPLETE UNKNOWN (best price 15/2), who heads the small but select group from that category based on his overall form in top-class events, just gains the slight vote in what looks a wide-open renewal.

Successful in this prestigious race on Broadheath and Playschool as a jockey, Paul Nicholls has always gone out of his way to try and emulate those achievements as a trainer and this son of Dylan Thomas has many similarities to one of his previous winners Strong Flow. Just as the 2003 hero did, the seven-year-old warmed up for a tilt at this event with victory in an intermediate chase at Newton Abbot and although you couldn’t say he was wildly impressive in doing so, it was still a fair effort to repel the useful Might I over a trip short of his best.

Runner-up to Gold Cup favourite Gerri Colombe in a Grade 1 at Aintree last season, the way he stayed on in the final half a mile that day suggested three miles would be more his bag this term and having worked nicely with yesterday’s impressive novice chase winner, Hermes Allen, in a recent gallop put on by the sponsors, his preparation looks to have been timed to a nicety.

Of the rest, the other two main second season novices Mahler Mission and Monbeg Genius must come into the argument and for those who fancy the former, it was good to see John McConnell finally have a winner after a fallow period without one at Dundalk last night. The latter represents the strong form line of the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham last season and if it wasn’t for a uncompletion at Ascot last time out, which wasn’t his fault, he would be an even warmer order to better that fine third at the festival behind the likes of subsequent Grand National hero Corach Rambler and Grade 1 winner Fastorslow.