Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

STARSHIBA (best price 16/1) has been performing well for new connections considering he’s been running over trips arguably shorter than his best and following an excellent run on the figures at Southwell last time out, one of the few C&D winners in the field can go along way to outrun his morning odds.

A multiple winner on the all-weather when in the care of David O’Meara, the seven-year-old began life from his new base in encouraging fashion at Wolverhampton and even though he’s failed to add to his tally in two runs since, both performances have not been without merit.

At Colwick Park last time, although he only finished sixth of the 13-strong field, the time figure of the race was as such he ended up running as well as he ever has done in the past and with today’s step back up to a mile not seen as a major disadvantage (won three times over today’s trip), he can prove the surprise package of the race.

SANDOR CLEGANE (best price 2/1) has taken really well to fences judged on his two runs so far to date and with connections seemingly keen just to get a win under his belt before he bids to go onto better things, Paul Nolan’s gelding can take care of business down in class.

A top-class staying novice hurdler last season, the highlight coming when he was third in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival (unlucky not to win), the son of Fame And Glory has always been seen as a chasing prospect by connections and although he hasn’t quite hit the heights they would have been anticipating just yet, his effort in a Grade 2 at Punchestown was a marked improvement on his opening gambit.

Slightly lucky to inherit second in many respects due to Flooring Porter’s tendency to shift left in the latter stages, he did at least stick to his task in brave fashion and considering the testing conditions that day were less than ideal, all round it wasn’t a bad performance on just his second outing over fences. Likely to be more suited by today’s better ground, the addition of a tongue-tie and racing left-handed might also aid his cause and on balance, he rates a reasonable bet at the morning odds given his overall body of work.

MISS BLUEBELLE (best price 8/1) defied the laws of science in a big way with her victory at Wolverhampton last time out and providing she can translate the same level of form on her first visit to today’s track, there’s more than a strong possibility she can follow up.

To say she took a keen hold in the early stages is an understatement and even coming out of the back straight at the Dunstall Park venue she was still fighting for her head. Based on all known logic, she should have had little left in the locker for the final push for home but instead of complying with conventional wisdom, she actually found an impressive turn of foot to pull even further clear of her rivals inside the final two furlongs.

Clearly a mare at the peak of her powers at present based on the evidence presented seven days ago, she will have to no doubt raise her game another notch to cope with the rise in class here this afternoon, but with the strong possibility of a decent pace being set by Twirling likely to suit, Marcus Tregoning’s inmate can prove equal to the task.

ENGLISH SPIRIT (NAP) (best price 15/8) was probably a little bit too keen on his first run for 67 days here last time out but with that all important run under his belt, Heather Main’s incumbent can add to his terrific overall record at the track.

3-6 at the Midland venue prior to facing the starter here eight days ago, the son of Swiss Spirit was a warm order to land another notable prize but posted out wide early, he ended up getting lit up on the run round the first bend and that trait continued all the way down the back straight. Despite those antics, he still managed to stay on pretty strongly under the circumstances and to finish third in what turned out to be a decent race on the figures for the grade was no mean feat.

So far, the likes of Surprise Picture and Kingwell have boosted the form this week and with his previous winning jockey, Billy Loughnane, back on board not seen as a negative move by any stretch of the imagination, the combination rate a solid choice down the front end of the market.