Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Some big names and reputations on show in by far the best and most competitive juvenile hurdle run so far this season and even though it might be tempting to take a punt of one of the less exposed members of the party, KALA CONTI (best price 8/1) rates the solid, each-way percentage call.

One of just two horses in today’s line-up with four runs over hurdles under her belt, Gordon Elliott’s filly was just touched off by the useful Nurburgring on her penultimate start, but she soon gained her due rewards with a gutsy success in a Grade 2 over this C&D a month later.

In what turned out to be a slowly run affair, the daughter of Kakaktar raced handy throughout and when the inevitable dash for the line occurred, she showed good battling qualities to fend off a whole host of challengers on the run-in.

While you could argue the case for Kargese, who raced plenty keenly enough that day, to turn around the form, that might be a dangerous policy to take given she might do the same again, and in any case, Kala Conti has proven she can cope with however a race pans out (strongly run at Fairyhouse) and at the morning odds, she still looks to be seriously underestimated.

TO CHASE A DREAM (NAP) (best price 9/4) has suffered the misfortune of bumping into three smart novices on the northern circuit since switching his attentions to hurdles and even though you could hardly call today’s race penalty kick material, Paul Collins’ gelding still has the sort of requirements to end his series of placed efforts.

Subsequent Grade 2 runner-up Making headway was his first victim at Carlisle back in October and then followed defeats at the hands of the 126-rated Heltenham over today’s C&D and the hitherto unbeaten Great Pepper at Kelso last time out. Although probably not quite seeing out the extended 2m6f at the Borders venue 36 days ago, he still managed to run a time figure that usurped all his previous efforts and armed with the knowledge he ran much quicker in all departments that Walk On Quest that day (runner-up in a much slower time over two miles), he looks to have just Tarras Wood to worry about – and he’s not exactly bombproof either.

The father & son combination of John & Sean Quinn almost saw their official partnership start in the best possible fashion with Brazen Bolt over in Bahrain yesterday and the Yorkshire- based duo look to have bright prospects of bagging another decent pot with FIRST IMPRESSION (best price 9/1) in this similarly valuable prize.

Having his first outing of the campaign at Doncaster last time out, the seven-year-old impressed how he travelled throughout a strongly run affair and although he couldn’t quite match the eventual winner, Geromino, in the latter stages, time has told us he faced a tough task. Just to add extra gloss on the form on Town Moor, the third, Rare Edition also went on to boost the form/speed figure at Kempton next time and having proved he handles today’s track well enough in the past, the son of Make Believe has bright prospects of hitting the frame at the very least.

One of the most competitive races at the two-day festival but there’s a decent chance GAOTH CHUIL (best price 10/1) and NINE GRACES (best price 10/1) can feature providing they run somewhere near the level they ran to over the same C&D last time out.

Bidding to qualify for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, the former just came out on top in a dour battle to the line and once again Ted Walsh’s mare expressed her liking for the Dublin track. In proving she stays the trip well; she posted a time figure considerably quicker than the Grade 1 won by Irish Point over the same C&D and that kind of form makes her a major contender again on her return visit.

The latter did best of those held up off the pace 37 days ago, so she deserves quite a bit of praise in the circumstances. The way she stayed on off the home turn also pinpointed her appetite for a distance of ground and there appears no obvious reason why she wouldn’t be in the thick of the action again at the business end.

TRANSMISSION (best price 7/1), thanks to the exploits of his pilot Joe Anderson, was one of the most remarkable winners you are ever likely to see at Plumpton last time and even though he will probably need to raise his game to another level in this competitive environment here this afternoon, there’s a strong chance he will prove equal to the task.

Promising on his first two starts for his new handler since leaving his Irish base, Neil Mulholland’s gelding was well supported to make it third time lucky in a competitive heat at the Sussex venue and what can be described as making a proper Horlicks of the sixth hurdle, his goose looked well and truly cooked.

With his jockey performing a miracle to stay in the plate, akin to something seen in a rodeo, the son of Doyen not only recovered his poise, but he ended up running out a convincing winner and when you consider the speed figure he posted, his effort goes into another dimension. Not only did he manage to run the fastest overall time on the card, but his final lap sectionals also compared favourably to the other hurdles run over shorter distances and with the likes of Ramo (only just beaten in a competitive handicap hurdle next time) and Annual Invictus (won Great Yorkshire Chase) behind him that day, his performance reads even better now than it did at first glance.

Only raised 6lb in the rating when his exploits probably deserved a good deal more, the seven-year-old is clearly miles better than his revised mark and providing he handles today’s stiffer course at the first time of asking, anything other than a positive result must go down as a bit of a disappointment.