Saturday's Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

An incredibly difficult Dubai World card to predict with so many Japanese and American horses parachuting in for the big bucks, but if there’s one race where the locals might hold sway it’s in this category and of those that have the advantage of racing at Meydan on a regular basis, DANYAH (best price 8-1) has a more than fair chance to replicate last year’s win. 

Campaigned over seven furlongs and a mile for most of the last season’s carnival, the decision by connections to run him in the Al Quoz was a bold one to say the very least but as it turned out, the punt paid off in spectacular fashion.

Tracking the leaders over on the far side of the course to halfway, the seven-year-old was noted going well approaching the business end and once it became a question of who was going to grind out the final furlong best, his stamina proved the key component to victory. 

Having just had the two runs so far this term, both over seven furlongs, it’s easy to conclude defending his crown has been the sole priority and given the way he has travelled in each race, a bid of some significance looks on the cards. 

BRENTFORD HOPE (NAP) (best price 15-8) has taken well to the winter game since joining forces with his current handler and following a brave effort in victory at Newcastle last time out, Harry Derham’s gelding can stamp his authority over today’s field under ideal conditions. 

Setting out to make all the running at the Gosforth Park venue, Harry Derham’s gelding looks momentarily in danger of succumbing to course specialist Horn Cape, as his main rival loomed up going well two out, but from that juncture he really knuckled down to the task and he ultimately won going away. 

Clocking a very smart speed figure, the son of Camelot arrives here at the peak of his powers and with ground conditions once again in his favour, he should turn out to be very hard to pass over a track that complements attacking rides.

Life in the fast lane of the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival proved too rich for HARMONYA MAKER’s (best price 5-1) taste but now in much calmer waters and, more importantly, going back right-handed, Gordon Elliott’s inmate can prove her true worth. 

Twice a winner over fences in six starts, the seven-year-old’s best performance came when she lowered the colours of the useful pair Hauturiere and Silent Approach at Limerick back in December and a repeat of something near that level of form here today should allow here to be competitive at the very least. 

Although she’s been slightly below par on her two subsequent starts, there have been plausible excuses and running off a mark of 130 once considering her excellent conditional’s claim, it would be somewhat of a surprise if she couldn’t take advantage of that sort of assessment in her first handicap over fences. 

FAST RESPONSE (best price 10-3) is easily the most intriguing runner in today’s field, and a chance is taken on her hitting the straps on her first outing for new connections. 

Very smart on her day when trained by Karl Burke, she didn’t quite have the season connections would have desired but at the same time, she did show up prominently when conditions were in her favour. 

Looking at her best effort during the campaign, it came first time out at Doncaster when the mud was flying so working on the theory arriving here off the back of a break is probably the right time to catch her, the daughter of Fast Company receives the vote. 

RISKE BELLE (best price 3-1) failed to cut much ice in the white-hot heat of The County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out, but she now returns to a venue she has a particularly good record and for that reason, she is fancied to repeat her victory in this corresponding race last year. 

Holding every chance coming down the hill at Prestbury Park, Willie Mullins’ mare became outpaced as the tempo finally lifted from its pedestrian nature and although she kept on well enough after the last, she couldn’t live with many who were more adaptable to the conditions on the day.

Seen to much better effect in a stronger run environment in the past, her time figure when scoring here back in December and twelve months ago back up that view and with the hope she is in a similar frame of mind, the daughter of No Risk At All rates the percentage call