Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

3m2f on rain-softened ground for predominately summer jumping types will prove a bridge too far for many of today’s contenders but, based on their tussle here 32 days ago, the prevailing conditions shouldn’t phase either BARRAKHOV (best price 10-3) and JEAN GENIE (best price 11-2) and they are taken against the field on their return to the Midland venue. 

The Racing Post site is a brilliant and invaluable tool for all punters but sometimes there can be a flaw in the system, none more so when there is a significant going change during a day’s racing. At the start of the meeting at Uttoxeter on June 15, for instance, the official going was good but by the time the 6.40 had rolled around (race 4), it was riding closer to soft but if you click on the form figures of all the participants in the race, the Racing Post data still has it down as good. Surely, in today’s technically advanced age, this can’t be right to have punters – particularly those who weren’t watching at the time - misinformed in such a way and it’s something that must be changed for the better. 

Anyway, rant aside, the time figure still worked particularly well compared to the rest of the card, suggesting it was a proper test in the conditions and although the temptation was to be cute and side with Jean Genie each-way at the morning prices, the safest option is to just play both against the field in the belief if one of them runs to a similar level of form they will more than likely walk away with the prize. 

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VINCE LE PRINCE (best price 11-2) showed a good willing attitude when returning to winning ways at Leicester last time out and with the time figure very favourable for the grade along with the runner-up endorsing the form since, Tim Easterby’s gelding can stay in the fast lane while clearly in fine fettle. 

Settling nicely in midfield until halfway, the four-year-old was produced with a challenge at the furlong pole and in a bit of a wild finish, he just about gained the day over subsequent Doncaster winner, Chancery.

Since returning from a 221-day break, that’s now three solid performances from the son of Iffraaj and having won on soft ground at Catterick last September, today’s turning left-handed track under similar conditions should suit. 

GREENFINCH (best price 7-2) came from an uncompromising position to finish a respectable third in a similar contest at Naas last time out and a run of a similar magnitude should easily be good enough for Aidan O’Brien’s filly go two places better. 

Drawn poorly at the Kildare venue last month, Ryan Moore immediately took the decision to rein back his mount and opt to race at the rear of the field and although those tactics ultimately led to her obtaining the best possible finishing position, at the same time she never looked like capturing the prize. 

Looking at the sectional times from that Oaks trial, they reveal the winner and her stood out like soar thumbs in terms of overall performance levels and even though tonight’s assignment over two furlongs shorter will require a different skill set, she has the pace and ability to prove equal to the task.