Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

THEATRE MAN (best price 9/4) took to his new vocation well based on his effort over today’s C&D a month ago and even though he faces a couple of similarly progressive types in the shape of Amron Sage and Brave Kingdom, he might just have enough quality to keep them at bay.

A progressive novice hurdler last season, highlighted by his winning display at Kempton, Richard Bandey’s gelding embarked on a career that was always seen as his ultimate destiny here last time and for nine tenths of the three-mile journey, he looked like making the perfect start until along came Inch House to spoil the party.

Given the exploits of the winner next time, there was certainly shame in getting beaten by a horse who surely will be taking even higher over fences throughout the remainder of the season and with today’s softer ground likely to inconvenience him less than most, the son of Ocovango should take some stopping.

H KEY LAILS (best price 17/2) was denied any chance of building on his promising start to his winter all-weather campaign here previously at Chelmsford last time out, but he is afforded another chance prove he remains one to keep on side at this level.

Held in last place turning for home at the Essex track, Michael Attwater’s inmate began what appeared a promising move towards the main players at the two-furlong pole, but it was from that point when disaster was followed by a huge dollop of bad luck. Having the door slammed in his face when seemingly full of running not once but twice, he eventually was eased down once his winning chance had gone and on that evidence of that performance, he clearly arrives here in better shape than the bare form suggests.

A good third over today’s C&D following an 86-day break the time before, he now returns to the Surrey circuit in much better physical shape and with a favourable draw, there is no obvious reason why he won’t go close to adding to his two career victories on the all-weather.

GALLIC GEORDIE (best price 7/1) maybe getting a little long in the fang but as he showed last time at Wetherby, he is still capable of showing the youngsters a thing or two and at a track where he has gone particularly well in the past, Sam Drinkwater’s veteran can roll back the years for the second time in a month.

Dropped back to his optimum trip after not quite seeing out the extended 2m3f journey on his seasonal bow at Wetherby, the 10-year-old was sent off the outsider of a four-strong field on his return to the Yorkshire venue and having travelled with his customary swagger through a well-run affair, he defied his position in the market with something to spare.

Strong off the bridle on the run to the line, the son of Geordieland displayed all the old fire that saw him rattle off series of victories when climbing through the ranks two seasons ago and now clearly back in the zone, he can continue to make hay back at a track where his form figures read 123.

PICPOUL (NAP) (best price 5/2) hit the ball out of the park for a horse of her grade here last time out and something similar should be sufficient for the five-year-old to follow up on her return to the Co Lough venue.

 A regular at tonight’s venue, Michael Rice’s mare had rather lost her way in recent times but the combination of a strongly run contest and dropping back to the extended 1m2f journey turned around her fortunes in no uncertain terms. The way she powered clear of her rivals in the closing stages to go on and record the fastest time figure on the eight-race card pointed towards a mare right on top of her game and having gone back-to-back with the space of a week in the past, there’s a decent chance she will repeat the dose if tonight’s tempo is of a similar nature.