Saturday's Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

GORDON BENNETT’s (best price 9-2) recent form figures don’t look too appealing at first glance, but his last two runs have offered a little bit more hope he might be nearing something close to his best and back at the scene of many of his more productive efforts in the past, Richard Brabazon’s is worth chancing. 

On a proper roll two seasons ago, he went from scoring off a mark of 74 to the heady heights of 94 after his winning spree had ended but on the majority of his six runs subsequently, he has looked a shadow of his former self. 

However, a better effort at Naas on his seasonal bow lifted the spirits and although he failed to improve on that finishing position over today’s C&D last time, he might well have done so had he received anything like a clear run. 

Held up towards the rear at the Kildare track, he was spotted going as well as anything approaching two out, but it was from this point when he ran into the back of horses running up and down on the spot and by the time he’d been extricated from the pocket, the race was done and dusted. 

Clearly better than the bare result suggested 36 days ago, this race has been the only one he has been eligible to run in since and with his regular pilot returning to the honours in the saddle, the combination should prove a potent force. 

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Harry Eustace’s older horses, particularly his staying types, have flown the flag for his stable so far this season, but the Newmarket handler has not been averse to producing the odd juvenile winner along the way (introduced a nice debutante to win at Kempton in midweek) and in the shape of HAVANA GILA (best price 14-1), he looks to have bright prospects of landing some valuable black type for his progressive filly.

Shaping nicely on her debut while in need of the experience, the daughter of Havana Gold was pitched in against several above average and well fancied fillies at York last time out and having chased a strong pace set by River Seine, she gradually got on top close home. 

On the evidence of that effort, she needed every yard of that sharp five furlongs to prevail and with the clock also speaking favourably of her display, she doesn’t look out of place in this field. 

It was noticeable here at the last meeting, horses coming from off the pace having initially been drawn wide were the ones to be with and of those that fit that category in this race today, DARE TO HOPE (best price 13-2) can perhaps continue that current trend. 

A winner at Beverley earlier in the season, Richard Fahey’s inmate returned to a similar level of form at Hamilton last time out, coming from off the pace to almost chase down the all-the-way winner, Manila Scouse. Time wise, the race at the Scottish track was extremely good and with the third home, Glenfinnan, boosted the form with a cracking effort in the Wokingham last weekend, there’s every chance the son of Camacho can also fly the flag with distinction at a track where he didn’t shape too badly on his only previous visit. 

YASHIN (best price 9-1) has several of the strongest form lines carried forward into this valuable prize and providing he can translate those performances on turf to the all-weather, Jessica Harrington’s gelding has a decent chance of making the trip over the Irish Sea worthwhile. 

Since his fine effort when seventh in last season’s Ebor Handicap at York, the five-year-old has been plying his trade to a useful level in pattern races and having finished within striking distance of subsequent Gold Cup hero Kyprios on his two starts this campaign, he’s significantly raised his game. 

Although yet to race beyond 1m6f, he shaped last time at Leopardstown like an extra two furlongs wouldn’t go amiss and with his low draw not seen as a negative towards his chances, a nice clean run around the inside should see him line up for home holding every chance.