Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

DONNIE AZOFF (best price 11-4) has yet to rip up any trees in four starts over fences but, in his defence, there have been mitigating circumstances regarding trip and ground, and following an extremely impressive display back over hurdles at Stratford last time out, Jamie Snowden’s gelding is well worth another chance on his return to the larger obstacles. 

Off the track for 229 days, the eight-year-old travelled noticeably well following decent fractions at the Midland venue and he made a couple of clumsy mistakes during the two-mile journey, they weren’t enough to prevent him scoring with a good deal to spare. 

Visually good eight days ago, the clock also reveals he arrives here in extremely good shape and providing he can translate that level of performance over to this discipline, the scopey chestnut has the requirements to feature in a race of this nature. 

The novices handicap chase won by Lesser at Bangor last month was noted for its strong time figure and HOMETOWN BOY (NAP) (best price 3-1), having played a pivotal part in the race, looks the one to side with based on the evidence of that display.  

Not seen out since falling five out on a hot contest at Newbury, Stuart Edmonds’ inmate was on a retrieval mission at the Welsh track and although he didn’t manage to win what turned out to be a strongly run affair, it was noticeable how solid his jumping was throughout the three-mile journey. 
A useful handicapper over hurdles, he’s not necessarily the type you would plying his trade during the summer jumping months and he is fancied to stamp his authority of today’s field. 

BOTAS (best price 7-1) must be counted extremely unlucky to bump into a horse of Skysail’s (now rated 97) potential at Goodwood last time out but with today’s competition nowhere near the same class, Jim Boyle’s gelding is fancied to add to his impressive C&D stats that currently read 31471. 

Held towards the rear at the Sussex circuit, the six-year-old was effectively trying to concede a ten-length advantage to a horse who could easily be plying his trade at pattern level in future, so to finish second under the circumstances wasn’t a bad return. 

Prior to that useful effort 19 days ago, he had run out a comfortable winner of a similar race he faces tonight and at the morning odds, he makes plenty of appeal to replicate that performance on his return visit.