Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Serious Notions sets a pretty good standard with her third in a listed event at Leopardstown normally good enough to win a race of this nature but if there is to be joker in the pack, VINA ARANA (best price 9/1) might turn out to be the one most likely to spring a surprise. 

Having landed a barrier trial in impressive fashion at the Co Lough venue back in September, one would have expected her know her job sufficiently enough to be competitive in an ordinary maiden, but that theory soon went out the window as she flopped out of the gates and found herself in last place through the first half a mile. 

In what turned out to be a damage limitation exercise from that point on, she was noted doing some sterling late work to finish a never-nearer sixth and with that experience likely to have done her the power of good mentally more than anything else, she can head back to the same venue armed with the knowledge she has what it takes to show her true worth with a cleaner break.

The data suggests there’s nothing much between LIMESTONE RED (best price 15/2) and Fairytale Princess based on their respective victories over today’s C&D from 19 days ago but with the likelihood that Michael Halford & Tracey Collins’ gelding might be open to the more improvement of the pair, he is taken to back up the view he remains a very well-treated horse. 

Fitted with the cheekpieces for the first time after disappointing on his all-weather debut previously, the three-year-old was also stepped up in trip to see whether trying one lap of the Co Louth venue would work the oracle and as it turned out, the combination of both factors paid off. 

Nicely supported beforehand (shortest price 25-1 in his other five starts) the three-year-old chestnut was noted travelling well turning for home and having struck the front over a furlong out, he found the necessary reserves to fend off Hasten Slowly in the latter stages. 

Clocking a decent time for a race of its kind, it’s been good to see not only the runner-up win since but the seventh also oblige and with the handicapper somehow seeing fit to keep the son of Cotai Glory on a rating of 64, only a complete capitulation of the level of form he showed last time can see him not having a huge say in the outcome of this contest.

POSITIVE IMPACT (NAP) (best price 10/3) is fast establishing himself as a proper all-weather performer and following a career high display according to the figures at Chelmsford last time out, Simon & Ed Crisford’s chestnut can continue to make hay back at a track where he ran out a comfortable winner last year. 

Arriving at the Essex track after a 63-day break, the four-year-old soon established a lovely rhythm at the head of affairs and when kicked for home at the two-furlong pole, he gradually pulled clear of his oiling rivals. Unsurprisingly, given the gallop he set and the manner of victory, he ended up posting a very smart speed figure and with an ideal draw from which to build a similar foundation here this evening, the son of Shamardal can make the breakthrough at pattern level.