Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SERIOUS OPERATOR (best price 9/2) proved good enough to mix it against some of the best southern-based handicappers around over this distance at Kempton last time out and now heading back in the direction of more familiar surroundings, Lucinda Russell’s gelding can supplement his previous C&D victory.

A good winner at Doncaster two starts ago, the seven-year-old was nevertheless sent off one of the outsiders in an extremely competitive renewal of the Lanzarote Hurdle but despite his 28-1 price tag, he came out of the contest with a huge amount of credit.

Driven along heading out of the back straight, he then proceeded to run into the path of horses dropping back into his lap and, as a result, he had to regather his momentum before staying on strongly all the way to the line.

Only beaten eight lengths in fifth, he ended up posting a career high figure and with the form of the race already beginning to work out as anticipated (Mark Of Gold, Mothill and Nemean Lion all won since), a performance of a similar standard will surely be good enough to make him a player here today.

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CURLEY FINGER (NAP) (best price 5/2) arrived here having landed a very competitive Pertemps Qualifier at Musselburgh last time out and with connections resigned to the fact he’s unlikely to get into the final at Cheltenham, Rebecca Menzies’ gelding can take advantage of this easier assignment.

Out of form until the turn of the year when he scored with a degree of comfort at Newcastle, the seven-year-old carried forward his new-found confidence into a tougher arena at the Scottish track next time and under similar forceful tactics, he managed to fend off challengers aplenty in the final mile.

Although you could argue he was racing over a course that played into his strengths, it was still a performance to suggest he took his game to another level and when you consider his overall time figure and final circuit sectionals were on par with the two races over the minimum trip (Liari and Panjari), his endeavours are even greater than they appeared at the time.

Very likely to be the hound to the hare here today, Town Moor is often a haven for front runners and providing Nathan Moscrop gets the fractions right at the head of affairs, his mount can prove a tough nut to crack down the straight.

MALYSTIC (best price 9/2) has been a bit hit and miss over the last twelve months or so but with his latest effort confirming that Peter Niven’s gelding does have a penchant for today’s track, he is fancied to go well again under ideal conditions.

Well beaten on his first three outings of the season, there was a feeling maybe old father time was catching up with the 10-year-old but the way he applied himself in that 0-150 handicap 35 days ago suggested it was premature to start writing his obituaries.

The reason for thinking he excels on Town Moor more than anywhere else comes from the fact his previous career high came over the same C&D the previous year and with reasonably decent ground also crucial to his performance levels, today’s surface should provide him with the perfect platform to maintain his useful track record.

A cracking renewal of a race that sometimes has a bearing on events at the Cheltenham Festival and although GINGER MAIL (best price 40/1) has little chance of following in the footsteps of The Shunter in just over a week’s time, Nick Alexander’s gelding can at least outrun his odds over a C&D he knows well.

Not facing the first-time visor at Cheltenham three starts ago, the eight-year-old grey has been more like his old self since reacquainted with the cheekpieces and although he got beaten fair and square on the day by his old rival Cracking Destiny last time, his effort in third took his course record to 213 (would have the only other start but for unseating two out).

Likely to have nothing to do with the (likely strong) early pace, expect him to be picking off rivals one by one in the latter stages and at the morning odds, he’s worth a small each-way interest to sneak into the money at the very least (some firms offering six places).

THAPA VC (best price 5/1) did his best to overcome an appalling start at Southwell last time out and now back down in grade and returning to a C&D where he has gone well in the past, Mark Rimell’s inmate has a decent opportunity to regain the winning thread.

Renown for his tendency to miss the kick, even by his standards his exit at the Midland venue took the biscuit and it meant he was last turning for home in a competitive and strongly run affair. Making up the lost deficit to look dangerous on the run down to the final furlongs, the laws of physics finally took over, but even in finishing just outside of the money, he still knocked out a set of numbers superior to anything he’d previously achieved.

Clearly in the rudest of health based on those findings, the son of The Gurkha is expected to take a hand in the finish here tonight providing he’s within striking range turning for home.