Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

DESPERATE HERO’s (best price 7-2) rise through the ranks has been nothing short of spectacular in recent times and even though he may have to take his game to another level to defeat the likes of Live In The Dream and Twilight Calls here this afternoon, the rain that has fallen in his favour just might be the factor to help him towards bridging the gap.

A game winner of a small field, heavy ground handicap at Goodwood two starts ago, Jack Channon’s inmate was sent to Hamilton for his latest assignment in an even more competitive environment but despite taking on many in-form sprinters on home soil on quicker ground, he ran out a very decisive winner. 

Tanking his way through the race from the start, the four-year-old grey never looked in danger of relinquishing his advantage and giving the visual aspects of the display, it came as no surprise to find he had posted an extremely fast speed figure for the grade. 

Such were his numbers and subsequent hammer blow from the assessor, it makes sense for connections to think a little bigger for the son of Captain Gerrard and with his level of improvement showing no boundaries at present, he will hopefully turn out to be extremely competitive on this bigger stage. 

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A cracking staying contest for three-year-olds, a precursor to what we might see in the Melrose Handicap at York next month, and both WILD WAVES (best price 9-2) and ALIGN THE STARS (best price 7-1) have all the attributes to make their presence felt. 

The former has improved rapidly since being sent up significantly in distance and his latest effort over 1m6f at Doncaster was completed in a fast time. Proven, therefore, over today’s trip when there has been a solid end-to-end gallop, everything looks set fair for a positive display from a horse who will also not mind any rain.

The latter is also proven under similar conditions that he will face today and given the way he hit the line at Thirsk last time out, an extra two furlongs won’t inconvenience him either. The strength of the field that day along with the speed figure suggests it looks strong form and even the tenth horse home, beaten 14 lengths, has gone on to back up that view since.

A tall, rangy type with plenty of scope for improvement, it would come as something of a surprise if he didn’t play a leading role. 

The rain which has fallen in the last 24 hours may have dampened the spirits of some set of connections in this competitive handicap but not those associated with DUAL IDENTITY (best price 10-1), and he is fancied further add to his excellent record over today’s course that reads 512113. 

His latest effort over the C&D came when finishing a close-up third behind two of today’s rivals, Two Tempting and Classic, and while it would be a brave man to say for certain that he will turn around the form, he probably has a better chance of doing so than his odds imply. 

The other factor to consider from that performance is built around didn’t get the clearest of runs either three weeks ago and, with the strong possibility today’s rematch likely to be even more of a test, his confirmed stamina over further can come into play.

RARE CHANGE (best price 7-1) caught the eye in a major way on his mandatory third run for a handicap mark at Goodwood last time out and with the strong possibility of more to come now the handbrake is off, Richard Hughes charge can make his mark on his first outing in this sphere. 

Slowly away at the Sussex venue, he found himself detached in last with plenty to do at halfway but to his great credit, he finished off his race with plenty of purpose to make the losing margin more respectable and a platform from which to build on for the remainder of the season. 

Running the final three furlongs quicker than the winner, Soldier’s Heart, who could easily be bound for pattern company soon, the son of Mehmas clearly has plenty of ability and today’s extra furlong with a bit of ease underfoot should provide him with ample opportunity to show it. 

MAN O WORK (best price 9-1) has been lightly-raced in recent times but when he has made the odd appearance, he has run to a useful standard and, following a nice pipe-opener on the Flat at Tipperary last time out, Pat Fahey’s gelding can prove top weight to be no barrier. 

Returning from an absence of 250 days, the six-year-old looked to have a stiff task up against several in-form and race-fit rivals, but to his great credit, he only found the useful Himalayan Heights too good and considering the winner had locked horns with the likes of Birdman and Highbury on a previous start, the level of performance he produced can be further enhanced. 

A smooth winner of a hugely competitive, top-class handicap hurdle at last year’s Listowel festival on his previous outing, the son of Workforce clocked a big number in the process and in the hands of an excellent seven-pound conditional who knows him well, the combination looks primed to go well in a race where he brings a touch of quality to the table.