Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

As a general rule of thumb, first-time-out two-year-olds trained by Sir Michael Stoute very rarely win so the ones that do must be above-average, and that looked to be the case when EXPERT EYE (best price 11-4) made a spectacular winning debut at Newbury a month ago. Up against a warm, odds-on favourite in the shape of Mutakatif, who’d had the benefit of a previous outing, the son of Acclamation totally blew him out of the water with a tremendous turn of foot in the latter stages, and with the pair pulling nicely clear of the rest, immediately it looked a decent performance. Going back and putting some flesh on to the bones of the race, it revealed he ran the final three-furlongs miles quicker than anything else on the card and with the third and fourth both going on to land useful maidens subsequently, there’s every reason to believe he’s a pattern race horse in waiting based on that form alone. Time will tell how good he turns out to be, but it would be disappointing if he doesn’t make the grade and this looks to be the perfect rung on the ladder for him to climb. James Garfield, who ran a stormer in the Windsor Castle before getting off the mark at Doncaster in a fast speed figure, looks to be going in the right direction ability-wise and mentally and he could provide some each-way solace for those searching for some value against the front end of the market.

The overall time figure and subsequent form of the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot suggest that particular Group 3 for three-year-olds was an exceptionally good renewal and having featured heavily in the eventual outcome, both SPIRIT OF VALOR (best price 15-2) and DREAM CASTLE (best price 10-1) have to be of interest representing an age group that have a fine record in the race down the years. The former went in the meeting not in a particularly good form, but the combination of a very strongly run race over 7f clearly bought the best out in Aidan O’Brien’s inmate. Going on to prove the run was no fluke with a smooth victory at the Curragh last time out, he beat a very good field in the process, with the only real negative one can find with his chance here is his slightly tricky draw.

Although the latter has a little to find with the main selection on their meeting at the Berkshire venue, a better draw and slightly more favourable ground might just allow him to outrun his expectations. Having run well in the Greenham behind Barney Roy, he may have disappointed a few when only fifth in the 2000 Guineas, but he was one of several that got a tragic run through that day so it’s easy to hand out a cup of forgiveness to Frankel colt. Either way, he looks to be overpriced here based on his overall form and pure ability.

The drop back to five furlongs worked wonders for ATLETICO (best price 9-2) at Windsor last time out and with the likelihood of another strongly-run race to play into his strengths, there’s every reason to feel upbeat about him following up. Prior to that much-improved effort, Roger Varian’s inmate had run respectable well in two hard-knocking handicaps over 6f at Ripon (unlucky) and Ascot, but he just seemed to be more at home over the minimum trip at the Berkshire venue and his finishing kick was also a big feature of his overall performance.

CINEMA DE QUARTIER (best price 4-1) simply flew around Kilbeggan last time out and following that much-improved performance, Henry De Bromhead’s charge is strongly-fancied to repeat the dose despite the standard of opponent increasing. Having not stayed the trip when well beaten by the useful Lac Kivu (runs later in the week) at Punchestown the time before, connections of the son of Laveron were keen to make plenty of use of their charge dropping back down four furlongs at the Weatmeath track, and even though the strongly-fancied Monarch (scored easily since) ranged up alongside him going well two out, he quickly swotted him away. Likely to be ridden fairly aggressively again this evening, it will take a good one to go by him if he’s in the same sort of form.

STATE THE OBVIOUS (NAP) (best price 13-8) must have run over a black cat recently because he’s had the misfortune to bump into two very well-handicapped horses of late, but he simply has to be given another chance in the hope there isn’t another one lurking amongst the pack for a third time. Runner-up to subsequent winner Shanksamillion two starts ago, Jonjo O’Neill’s inmate was unlucky to lock horns with another blot on the weights in the shape of Mr Caffrey over the same C&D three weeks later. The feature of both of those two efforts was he managed to pull clear of the rest of the field in defeat and with each performance coming attached to a decent speed figure, the son of Presenting will hopefully make in third time lucky on his return visit to the Midland venue.

As ever, the draw and a good early track position is key to winning this valuable pot and the two that fit the bill are CANARY ROW (best price 14-1) and FUWAIRT (best price 12-1). The former is a regular in these big top-class handicaps and having run well in similar contests at Ballybrit in the past, he should go well on his third visit. Fourth in the Ahonoora handicap back in 2015, Paddy Prendergast’s charge ran just as well when a close-up sixth last year and following a wide-margin and confidence-boosting success at Gowran last time out, the evergreen seven-year-old looks booked for another bold display with ground in his favour and from a favourable low draw.

The latter has been plying his trade to a fair level in the UK for Roger Fell, but he looks an interesting runner for new connections in the first-time tongue-tie. Although winless since August 2016, the son of Arcano has run some notable races in defeat and you only have to go back and look at his run two starts ago when he finished third behind the smart Fastnet Tempest at Chester after racing out on the wing throughout to recognise he has a fair chance of scoring at the first time of asking for Gavin Cromwell.