Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

A bit of a minefield for punters with so many complex form lines on offer but the race won SECRET SQUIRREL (best price 13-2) at Taunton recently was a good one of its kind and both he and runner-up, HELNWEIN (best price 22-1), are taken against the field. 

Hughie Morrison’s flashy chestnut had yet to put in a bad shift on-route to the west country venue and under an attacking and well-judged ride from the front, he quickened up nicely in the home straight to register his most notable performance so far to date. Coping well with the soft surface than sometimes had previously been the case, the five-year-old clocked a smart speed figure 16 days ago and even if he doesn’t make the running on this occasion, he’s just as effective coming from just off the gallop. Today’s better ground should also suit. 

The latter has a bit to find with his old rival on the evidence of his effort last time, but he too should appreciate today’s better surface and having already experienced the slopes of the Esher venue earlier in the campaign, he can draw on that knowledge to good effect. 

Only out of the money once in eight starts, this smooth-travelling six-year-old is easily capable of outrunning his morning odds. 

Cheltenham racegoers were deprived one of the clashes of the meeting when JONBON (best price 2-1) was forced to pull out of his dust-up with El Fabiolo but the rematch many have been waiting for is most definitely on and at a track where the former has an unblemished record of 3-3, Nicky Henderson’s gelding can exact revenge on his old rival. 

Well beaten by Willie Mullins’ inmate in last season’s Arkle, the son of Walk In The Park appeared to have little chance of turning the tables in the build-up to The Champion Chase based on all known form, but as it turned out, El Fabiolo’s jumping frailties let him down and connections of Jonbon were left to rue what might have been if they’d let him take his chance. 

Seemingly much better away from Cheltenham and particularly here, the eight-year-old was good in this race last season and arriving here following a confidence boosting win at Aintree, he looks primed to take advantage of any misgivings the favourite might encounter around this supreme jumping test. 

Arriving here having enjoyed a light campaign is never a bad thing and AMIRITE (best price 6-1), with only two runs under his belt since this time last year, is strongly fancied to take advantage of his light workload and finally land the big pot he’s been threatening to land for quite some time. 

Travelling like the best horse in the race for majority of the 3m1f journey at Cheltenham on his seasonal bow, Henry De Bromhead’s gelding just ran out of steam in the closing stages on rain-softened ground and a similar scenario developed when last seen in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown back in December, only managing to keep on at the one pace when others found more in the final half a mile.  

Withdrawn from several possible engagements at the Cheltenham Festival once again due to inclement conditions, the gods have finally allowed the eight-year-old the opportunity to shine on the big stage and hailing from a stable whose UK raids have been largely successful throughout the season, he has all the right credentials to rubber stamp his passport back over the Irish Sea with a notable win. 

ROXANNE (NAP) (best price 9-2) shaped with an infinite amount of promise on her first start for new connections at Chelmsford last time out and with that all-important run under her belt seen as a distinct advantage over some of her rivals, Ed Dunlop’s filly is likely to prove hard to beat back on turf. 

A perfect 3-3 when trained by Markus Klug in Germany, she was a bit of an unknown quantity in many respects at the Essex venue but given the way she stayed on in the latter stages after getting momentarily outpaced, she looks like she could turn into a nice money spinner throughout the season. 

Even though the gallop was strong and allowed her stamina to come to the fore late on (time figure was very good), she shaped as though she would be seen to better effect over further and with all of her wins in her native land coming on soft ground, everything looks in place for her to stake her claim for not only tonight’s contest, but for some black type at some stage this season.