Andy Holding's Horse Racing Tips for Saturday

TIP 1: POATAN – ½ point Each-Way (four places)

Best odds of 12/1 at Coral while publishing.

ADVERTISED –1 point Each-Way (four places)

Best odds of 13/2 at SpreadEx while publishing.

A wide-open Wentworth Stakes but most of the fancied horses appear to be drawn high and of those housed in potentially the favoured part of the track (runners have come stands side in recent years), POATAN and ADVERTISED make the most appeal at the morning odds.

The former has always preferred soft ground, and it came as no coincidence that he was able to bounce back to his best form when encountering such conditions for the first time this season at Haydock two starts ago.

Pitched into the deep end of Group 1 company at Ascot on his latest outing (one of the lowest rated horses in the field), George Scott’s gelding was still bang in contention at the furlong pole until his lack of class at that level took over but even so, he still kept on well to finish an honourable seventh, beaten just over seven lengths.

Moreover, the ground at the Berkshire venue would have been plenty lively enough and now back on a more favourable surface, the son of Lucky Vega can round his domestic season off well for both himself and his trainer over a track where he has gone well in the past (third to Calendar Girl in a valuable sales race).

The latter has a bit to find with some of his main market rivals based on the figures, but he arrives here absolutely thriving following a career-high success over the C&D and with conditions to suit, he might just be capable of bridging the gap between handicap and pattern company.

A high draw could have potentially derailed his chances at the last meeting, but he ended up getting a lovely lead off Goldmoyne and he stayed on extremely strongly to record a convincing success.

Only just beaten by today’s favourite, Coul Angel, at York on his previous outing, his high draw (18) that day was definitely the difference between winning and losing and based on that performance alone, there is no way he should be chalked up three times the price of his old rival.

TIP 2: BAY COLONY – ½ point Each-Way (four places)

Best odds of 40/1 at bet365 while publishing.

BAY COLONY’s recent form figures don’t look that pretty compared to most, but she does appreciate testing conditions and following a better effort than the bare form suggests at Naas last time out, Fozzy Stack’s filly is worth a small interest to justify the trip over the Irish Sea.

The daughter of New Bay got handed a bad draw at Listowel two starts ago but despite that impost, she stayed on from a long way back to finish a never nearer fourth, in turn, strongly suggesting a return to further than a mile would suit.

Kept at the same trip at Naas last time, the four-year-old once again got done few favours with the draw, posted out widest of all in stall 16, and although she eventually finished just outside the money, it was only inside the final furlong she wilted, having been on the sharp end throughout.

Clearly in decent shape than at first glance based on those two efforts, she goes back over a trip that saw her finish a creditable fourth in a hugely competitive premier handicap at The Curragh earlier in the season and with connections seeing today’s race as the last opportunity for her to gain some valuable black type before the season ends, she may not be the forlorn hope her odds suggest in a bid to achieve the feat.

TIP 3: BLUEY – ½ point Each-Way (four places)

Best odds of 15/2 at bet365 while publishing.

SOUTHOFTHEBORDER – ½ point Each-Way (four places)

Best odds of 9/1 at Skybet while publishing.

A hugely competitive handicap chase with a multitude of permutations on offer and both BLUEY and SOUTHOFTHEBORDER have the sort of profiles to suggest they can make an impact.

The former hasn’t had the benefit of a recent run, but she did win first time out last season and her overall record over fences in one of a thoroughly progressive chaser.

After that successful beginning, Emma Lavelle’s mare performed well in all her five subsequent starts and with her final outing of the campaign coming as a career high in terms of form and speed figures, a continuation of a similar level of form can see her take high rank.

The latter didn’t do too much wrong on his return to action at Ffos Las, only finding one too good in a quality Grade 2 handicap containing many progressive types and with the third, Crebilly, and sixth, Riskintheground, both going on to boost the form last weekend, there is every chance Henrietta Knight’s gelding will replicate their actions.