Class Can See Withhold Home in Listed Race

We are more accustomed to seeing Withhold run in big staying handicap races, not small field listed races but that is exactly what stands in front of him at Newmarket on the first day of their Cambridgeshire meeting. This horse won a big handicap at Newbury on his return this season, before struggling to land a blow in the Ebor last time out. This race most definitely represents calmer waters and a great opportunity to land another win, something I am confident of him doing.

In terms of actual ratings, this horse is clear of his rivals. There are four horses against him, the closest is Austrian School, a horse who has been a little out of form recently and one that is 4lb behind the favourite Withhold on the official ratings. As for the rest of them, the other three horses are 16 or 17lb behind Withhold, which shows the difference in quality between the front two and the remaining three if this was a handicap race. It isn’t and that is where Withhold can take advantage of being the class act and use this to his advantage.

The one horse that can get close to Withhold is certainly Austrian School, although he has not been the most consistent this season. He won on seasonal debut and the best run he’s shown this season was a third in the Group Three, a race won by the talented Dee Ex Bee, but away from that he has disappointed in his other three outings. The challenge he makes will depend on which Austrian School we see, but for me, even if he does turn up and go well, I still think Withhold has the quality to beat him.

This looks like being a good matchup between these two, but for me Withhold is the one that will come out on top.

For further tips on Thursday and across the Newmarket Cambridgeshire meeting take a look at our tips page.