Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

The surprise late decision to run Rhododendron here following her gruelling encounter in the Oaks has rather put a spanner in the works for connections of SHUTTER SPEED (NAP) (best price 9-4), but given that she comes here a fresher horse than her main market threat, hopefully that will count for plenty. Always held in high regard, John Gosden’s charge brings an unbeaten profile into her stiffest task so far to date, but the way she disposed of her stable mate and Oaks heroine Enable on her first start this season at Newbury, suggests a genuine Group 1 filly in-waiting. Despite the ground being far from ideal, she made fairly light work of her rivals in the Musidora at York on her latest outing and given how much speed she shows in her races, this 1m 2f contest was always going to be a more viable option rather than the brutal test which Epsom usually offers.

DARK SHOT (best price 14-1) may be rated two stone lower than hot favourite here Mr Lupton, but his run at Epsom last time out indicated that his current mark might be someway short of his actual ability, and he’s fancied to punch considerably above his weight on his first try outside of handicap company. Unable to go the frantic pace in the Dash at the Surrey venue, Andrew Balding’s inmate produced an eye-wateringly strong finish from another postcode to eventually force a photo with the prominent-racing Caspian Prince and on the evidence of that performance he looks to be crying out for an extra furlong. Placed on the three times that he’s set foot on today’s track, the son of Acclamation – who’s yet to finish out of the money since being gelded – can do so again in a race that has quite a strange feel to it for a pattern contest.

EVERGATE (best price 4-1) looks a typical Robert Cowell improver and he rates a fairly confident choice to follow up his recent Windsor success. Despite racing on unsuitably slow ground, the son of Exceed And Excel managed to turn away a useful field and that victory was only what he deserved following a string of near misses. Prior to that win at the Berkshire track, the three-year-old was unlucky to bump into the very speedy Copper Knight around a track where he excels, but now back on a straight, flat six furlongs, he should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least.