Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

A race that traditionally has a big bearing on events at the festival itself in March – more predominately in the handicaps - and this year’s renewal looks like being no different with a whole host of improving novices arriving here with solid profiles.

Ginny’s Destiny commands the utmost respect having beaten subsequent Grade 2 scorer Grey Dawning over today’s C&D last time out but at the same time, BLOW YOUR WAD (best price 11/2) brings an equally strong form line to the table courtesy of his Kempton success last time and he rates a confident choice to provide the favourite with the most to think about.

Promising despite being well beaten on the day by Le Patron, the form of that race got a huge boost when the winner went on to land a Grade 1 back at the same track next time and Tom Lacey’s inmate himself took his game to another level also by capturing a hugely competitive heat at the Sunbury venue on his latest outing.

In a race run at a sound clip from the start, the son of Walk In The Park was well positioned throughout and when needing to be on point all the way down the straight, he found all the answers posed to see off the game Outlaw Peter. Looking at the data from the race 32 days ago, not only was the overall time figure healthy, but the final lap seconds were also on par with the likes of Grade 1 winners Il Est Francais and Hewick and with the fourth home, Kotmask, going on to boost the form at Sandown yesterday, hope is high the six-year-old can follow suit. With connections citing their desire to get this fella to the festival in March, a big run here should keep their hopes alive.

GEROMINO (best price 8/1) saw off a useful field that included subsequent Kempton winner Rare Edition over today’s course last time out and with today’s race arguably slightly weaker in comparison, it would be a major surprise if Donald McCain’s inmate didn’t put up another bold bid to maintain his excellent strike rate over hurdles (38%).

Setting off to make his intentions clear, the eight-year-old soon had his rivals in a spin and despite several throwing the kitchen sink and medicine cabinet at him for good measure, he found the necessary reserves to fend them all off down the straight.

In between being a multiple winning he’s often run well in defeat, and now heading back in the direction of a trip that has served him just as well in the past, he makes plenty of appeal as a sound each-way choice at the morning odds.

IL RIDOTO (best price 4/1) is a horse you can pretty much set your clock by in these types of events and following another brave effort over today’s C&D last time out, Paul Nicholls’ inmate is fancied to gain recompense.

Other than the odd fiddly little mistake here and there, the seven-year-old was his usual foot-perfect self over these demanding fences and after putting in a huge effort in seeing off Frero Banbou from the front, getting picked off by the patiently ridden Fugitif in the dying strides was hardly an outcome his deserved.

Still, it was a performance that went a long way to establish himself as one of the most reliable characters in the game and having put his rivals to the sword in this race last year, he’s not one for giving up his crown without a fight.

An incredibly competitive renewal of this valuable prize and TWOSHOTSOFTEQUILA (best price 8/1) looks in line to take a decent slice of the pie on ground he likes and a track that suits his eye.

A winner on Town Moor at the first time of asking last season, Rebecca Menzies’ inmate returned almost a year on in a bid to add to his record and although he came up a little short on the day, he was no means disgraced.

For a horse who thrives on being held up and brough with a late challenge, omitting the last four fences out meant his task was more magnified than usual and although he put in a valiant effort to make up the deficit in the home straight, he always looked to be fighting a losing battle.

As today’s race is later in the day, hopefully there won’t be a similar scenario with low sun, and he can put up his usual decent shift.