Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Andy will also be hosting a March Q&A with Steve Ryder at 12pm today for Oddschecker Unlimited customers. You will be able to exclusively acces all of our two experts' thoughts on the Cheltenham Festival, the remainder of the jumps season and ask as many racing questions of them as you like. See this post for details.

NORTH PARADE (best price 5-1) has enjoyed a fruitful campaign so far to date and based on the theory he might have won for the fourth time on the spin had he not been hampered at a crucial stage at Wetherby last time, Sue Smith’s inmate is fancied to regain the winning theme. 

The nine-year-old began his purple patch by beating subsequent dual winner Classic Maestro at Newcastle back in December and despite not being the most fluent over his hurdles, he duly followed up on his return visit several days later. 

Completing the hat trick back at the same venue following a two-month hiatus, the son of Dylan Thomas faced his toughest task to date at the Yorkshire track 20 days ago and there’s a decent chance he would have proved equal to the task but for being stopped in his tracks rounding the home bend. While the front two skipped merrily clear at this juncture, he had to sit and suffer until the gaps appeared in the straight but by then, the dye was cast, and he didn’t have sufficient time to make up the lost deficit. 

Finishing his race off with plenty of purpose, though, he left the impression he had plenty left to offer for next time and with today’s race representing a step down in class, it would be a surprise if this chasing type wasn’t able to capitalise under ideal conditions.

The race won by Saxon Appeal at Wolverhampton last month was noted for its strong speed figure for the grade and having played a significant role in the finish, UPEPO (NAP) (best price 5-2) receives the confident vote to consolidate the form. 

A dual winner this winter, Tony Carroll’s inmate was prominent in the market to make it three at the Dunstall Park track and although he ultimately came up a little short on the night, his numbers in defeat suggested he’d run close to a career high.

Keeping on well in the closing stages to finish on the coat tails of an improving Charlie Johnston-trained four-year-old who got loose on the lead reads well in the context of today’s race and with the step up to 1m6f seen as a positive move, the lightly-raced four-year-old can step up on his previous effort over the C&D, when he was given far too much to do. 

VISIBILITY (best price 6-1) caught the eye with the way he finished off his race here over seven furlongs 10 days ago and with the time figure from that performance pointing towards something approaching a career high, Scott Dixon’s inmate is worth siding with on his return to arguably his optimum trip. 
Turning for home with only two behind him at the Midland track, the seven-year-old seemingly faced an impossible task but to his great credit he managed to virtually the entire field in the straight and he was catching the eventual winner hand over fist at the line. 

Not for the first time in his illustrious career the son of Raven’s Pass has excelled at his local track and providing he receives a better rub of the green in the early stages this time, another solid run looks on the cards.