Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

ROCKIES SPIRIT (best price 5-1) raced with probably just a little bit too much exuberance on debut, but at the same time, he still showed enough to suggest there’s a race in him once his sights are lowered and this looks to be one such opportunity. Exhibiting plenty of natural pace to lead at HQ 12 days ago, Denis Quinn’s inmate took the field along at a good swinging gallop until two out and even though he matched the eventual winner, Invincible Army momentarily, he couldn’t quite maintain the level of pace James Tate’s potentially top-class colt achieved all the way up the hill to the line (very good closing sectionals). Even in finishing fourth, beaten seven lengths, however, the son of Swiss Spirit still recorded a speed figure to suggest he’s a fairly useful colt in his own right and with seemingly no potential superstars in his way this time around, he could be difficult to peg back if he runs in a similar fashion to the way he tanked along at the Suffolk venue.

As the front two in the market here, New Terms and Barca, both arrive off the back of bitterly disappointing performances last time out, there surely has to be some value to be had further down the pile and in the shape of PERFECT SOLDIER (best price 6-1), he fits the bill to a tee. Making his seasonal return off the back of a 356-day layoff, the son of Kodiac caught the eye with the way he finished off his race over tonight’s course last time out and with expected improvement to come on account of that initial outing and, by a step up in trip, a big run looks on the cards from a much more favourable draw than the one he received 19 days ago.

REHANA (NAP) (best price 9-4) got an uncharacteristically poor ride from Pat Smullen in the Irish 1000 Guineas last time out (a shocker on so many levels) and she’s expected to bounce back to her very best form now encountering her optimum conditions. Only half-a-length behind Winter in the trial at Leopardstown on her seasonal bow, Michael Halford’s inmate went on to be quite an impressive winner of a Group 3 at Naas next time out and off the back of that performance she was expected to figure heavily in the outcome at the home of Irish racing 27 days on. Unfortunately, the Irish champion decided to get into an unnecessary battle for supremacy with several others who wanted to race prominently (almost knocked Kevin Manning through the rail after two furlongs) and given that his mount was an unknown quantity over the trip on soft ground, there was only going to be one result after those early antics. Back over 7f on a fast surface, the daughter of Dark Angel – who also has the hood on for the first time – shouldn’t have too many excuses this time around.

One could argue that Marzouq chucked away the race eventually won by I’VEGOTTHEPOWER (best price 5-1) at Goodwood 19 days ago, but it would also be churlish to totally dismiss the performance of Brian Meehan’s charge too, as he had to do things the hard way from the front. Setting off at strong early fractions at the Sussex venue, the son of Power looked for all the world like he was going to get totally engulfed two out, but keeping on in tremendously dogged fashion, he fended off a series of challenges to score by a narrow margin. Clearly suited by a mile on a firm surface, today’s untreated terrain is just the place for this free-going sort and having already proven himself twice over at the Wiltshire venue, another big effort looks on the cards.