Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

The London Gold Cup won by King’s Gambit a month ago is easily the best piece of three-year-old middle-distance handicap form so far this season and INTO BATTLE (best price 7-2), having shaped well on his baptism of fire at Newbury, brings solid credentials to the table into this slightly easier-looking contest. 

A difficult one to assess following a narrow margin victory at Epsom previously, Ed Walker’s chestnut travelled like he was going to defy his odds of 40-1 and although he ended up finishing just outside the placings, there was no shame getting beaten six lengths in a race that produced an extraordinary time figure. 

Since then, we’ve already seen the form boosted by fourth-placed Persica at Epsom, and with today’s stiff track set to suit, the scopey son of Churchill looks primed to follow suit for his in-form yard. 

Back Holding's tips directly through oddschecker at a guaranteed best price by clicking the odds widgets below the tips.

TERAABB (best price 8-1) was undoubtably a shade disappointing at Ascot when last seen but as the ground was arguably a bit on the quick side for Charlie Fellows’ inmate, he is afforded another chance to prove his previous victory at Newbury was no flash in the pan. 

Held up towards the rear at the Berkshire venue, there was a moment when he looked dangerous around the two-furlong pole but unable to stride out as anticipated from that juncture, he made further inroads to the main players. 

Much better judged on his victory on his seasonal bow back in April, he exhibited a sharp turn of foot on good to soft ground to wear down subsequent winner Dashing Darcy in the shadows of the post and that form would see him play a pivotal role in today’s contest with anything like a clear run around the inside. 

DIVAS DOYEN (best price 9-2), in retrospect, faced an impossible task trying to run down subsequent Bangor scorer, the 122-rated Briezh River over today’s C&D last time out, but with the speed figure very good for the grade and nothing of that calibre in against her on her return visit, Sandy Forster’s mare looks to have a direct path to going one place better. 

Although she’s still yet to win a race, it’s worth pointing out she has managed to run beyond expectations on more than the odd occasion – usually when the ground has been good – and that was very much the case here 25 days ago.

Coming from a fair way back at the Cumbrian track, she finished strongly on the run-in to get within a length and a half of the winner and with the pair well clear, a repeat of a similar level of form should see her play a pivotal role in this slightly weaker affair. 

OMAN (best price 9-2) is developing into a bit of track specialist since switching yards and having somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on his latest visit, Tony Carroll’s inmate is fancied to make amends on his return to the Roodee. 

Although a previous winner around today’s tight track, he had rather lost his way for old connections, but following a 300-day break and a change of scenery, the six-year-old came roaring back to form with a gutsy success over the C&D. 

Looking as though likely to follow up two weeks later, he proceeded to drift badly off a true line once straightening up for home and this loss of concentration ultimately cost him the race, with the persistent challenge of favourite Cavern Club finally gaining the day close home. 

Back in the hands of Zak Wheatley, hopefully the son of Australia doesn’t adopt the same mindset on his return to his old stomping ground and if so, he looks the who sets the standard. 

UBETYA (best price 8-1), despite running to a fair level on his last two starts, has dropped down to ridiculously low mark compared to his heyday and now back at a track where his form figures read 212, Jedd O’Keeffe’s gelding can make reasonable inroads to finally working his way back into the winner’s enclosure. 

Fourth in a hot race for the grade at Ludlow two starts ago (winner gone in again since), the nine-year-old was quietly fancied to improve on that position in a similar heat at Huntingdon last time out and although he didn’t manage to make as big an impact as anticipated, the data suggested his effort wasn’t as bad as first feared. 

Runner-up, Edison Kent, has already proven the form from the race at the Cambridgeshire venue is rock solid and with tonight’s better ground (rained heavily pre-race 25 days ago), and drop down in class seen as two positives in his direction, the son of Le Fou can’t have too many excuses if he fails to shine this time.