Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Paggane didn’t jump with any great fluency when a well beaten fifth on her debut at Navan and will have to improve in all departments but even if she does, WILL WILDE (best price 2/1) has by far and away the best form of the front two in the betting, and he’s strongly fancied to uphold that view.

Making his hurdling debut at Naas a month ago following an impressive bumper success at Sligo the time before, Liz Doyle’s grey was held up in midfield at the Co Kildare venue and but when the tempo picked up in the final half a mile, he found himself in a position whereby he couldn’t cover the pace injected by the first two home.

However, he finished off his race well enough to suggest there will be many more opportunities to shine further down the line and particularly when more use is made of him. It’s also worth noting he managed to cover the final circuit a shade quicker than the two-mile novice hurdle on the same card won by the highly regraded mare Only By Night and that suggests the son of Martaline has a reasonable amount of pace to match his stamina.

Having made all to score previously, hopefully the five-year-old will be ridden more aggressively here this afternoon and if so, he can put his main market rivals to the sword.

FLAMBOROUGH (NAP) (best price 9/4) prior to completely blowing out at Fairyhouse last time had scored in the manner of an improving type over today’s C&D and in the hope that Thomas Gibney’s inmate becomes revitalised on a return to the Mallow venue, he rates the percentage call at the morning prices.

A useful horse on the Flat when trained by Mark Johnston, there was always a decent chance with his preference for soft ground he might transfer some of his better form to the winter game and so its proved.

Although it took him seven attempts to finally break his duck, his victory over the highly regarded Jigoro here back in November was underlined by a smart speed figure and with the runner-up going on to spreadeagle his field at Navan next time, the form looks solid.

Whether it was the hurly burly of a big field handicap, the track, being a little too keen for his own good or a combination of all three factors that caused him to run so poorly last time out only time will tell, but either way, his numbers suggests he is way better than what he showed that day and with the pause that refreshes likely to have done him the world of good, he can bounce back to form with a vengeance.

Connections of KINTURK KALANISI (best price 7/1) must have been delighted with the way Thomas Gibney’s gelding shaped on his rules debut at Punchestown a month ago and with seemingly not too many standing in his way for a direct line to success in this similar maiden hurdle, he looks booked to go well over a trip that will suit.

Sent off 28-1 at the Co Kildare venue up against a useful field of novices that included Aintree bumper runner-up Blizzard Of Oz, big thing weren’t expected from the son of Kalanisi on his first outing for 212 days and although that pre-race theory partly came true, he did more than enough to suggest he will be a different proposition next time, particularly over further than 2m3f.

Keeping on well late on, he managed to finish within 10 lengths of a horse who has Grade 1 aspirations this season and with the time figure also speaking in favour of the race 25 days ago, his performance warrants plenty of praise.

Runner-up in an Irish point on his only other outing, the step up to three miles today can only enhance his claims and even though he faces a strong opponent in the shape of Largy Debut, he doesn’t have too many other to fear.

REPUTATION (best price 15/2) shaped quite nicely on his first start over today’s C&D last time out and based on the theory he might have gone a good deal closer to winning with a clearer run, a return to the scene of that fine effort back down in grade should see Ruth Carr’s gelding in the mix.

Sent off a rather surprising 40-1 despite scoring at Chelmsford the time before, the 10-year-old was held up in the rear as those towards the tip of the arrow blazed a trail and had the gaps emerged at the right time, he may have gone a long way to defying those odds.

Stopping in his tracks on several occasions inside the final furlong, he hit the line with plenty more to offer and considering the speed figure was very good for a 0-72 handicap, his effort in defeat must be commended.

Back in Class 6 grade and in a race that should be run at a reasonable gallop thanks to Star Of St James being in the line-up, the veteran can more than hold his own against the younger brigade.