Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MANY TEARS (best price 4-1) made a mockery of her rating when capturing a competitive listed fillies’ event for previous connections when last seen at Dundalk back in November and providing James Ferguson’s new acquisition is in the same sort of form 148 days ago, she can continue where she left off on her UK debut. 

Beaten off a mark of 78 in a fillies’ handicap on her previous start, there was an argument to be made her 11-2 SP against better opponents on her return visit was plenty short enough, but after travelling noticeably well throughout a strongly run affair, she came through from the back of the field late on to dispel that theory was some panache. 

In easily running down many fillies rated in the 90’s, she left the impression there could be a good deal more to come in future, particularly on the all-weather, and with the four-year-old given the chance to back up that view on her first start for her new stable, hope is high she can prove to be an instant hit over a track that should play into her strengths. 

YOUTHFUL KING (best price 10-1), seen to best effect when forcing the issue in recent times has, through circumstances beyond his control, had to adapt to a different style of racing in his last two starts and with the strong possibility that he might have to do so again here this afternoon, Luke Dace’s inmate can go along way to breaking the trend of his four previous all-the-way victories. 

Drawn 12 of 12 at Lingfield two starts ago, the decision to drop him out right from the start was always likely to pose problems against a hugely competitive field and even though that scenario turned out to be the case, a strong finishing third was arguably a better result rather than him using up too much energy early by being over exerted in a bid to get across to the front from his wide post. 

Coming out worst in the ballot for the second time in succession on his return to the Surrey venue (14 of 14), the son of Fountain Of Youth was once again taken back after the stalls opened and just as he did four weeks prior, he came home to best effect down the outside to claim an unlikely fourth. 

Although not as badly off in stall 10 today, it’s still wide enough for perhaps connections to send Ethan Jones out with the instructions to play a waiting game for the third time in a row and providing the combination don’t get too far out of their ground this time around, there’s a decent chance they will be pitching for top honours in the latter stages. 

BLUE BEACH (NAP) (best price 10-3) narrowly failed to make all the running at Market Rasen last time out but with the figures she produced in defeat all pointing towards it being an excellent bid by Mel Rowley’s mare, she can gain compensation against similar opposition. 

Setting off with a degree of intent at the Lincolnshire venue, the daughter of Kayf Tara had everything at full stretch turning for home and even when headed by the eventual winner on the run down to the last, her never-say-die attitude almost grabbed the prize she richly deserved. 

Nevertheless, she still arrives here in good shape and having captured a bumper at today’s track on her debut back in 2022, her course knowledge will hopefully stand her in good stead.