Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

It goes without saying, previous course form and guaranteed stamina are key ingredients to look for here, so with that in mind, step forward STAR RIDER (best price 10-1) and OCTOBER STORM (best price 12-1). The former needs no second introduction having run numerous good races over today’s unique course and having landed this very race twelve months ago, it’s safe to assume she’s been plotted up for a repeat bid. Arriving here off the back of a creditable effort in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting, the daughter of Cape Cross should be just about at fever pitch representing a yard in sparkling form at the moment.

The latter has also showed a liking for the Sussex slopes and he, too, also ran with promise in a much stiffer test than the one he faces today at Ascot last time out. Coming from a long way back in the Queen Alexander, Mick Channon’s inmate proved again that he stays extreme distances really well and having been hugely unlucky not to add to his previous success here earlier in the campaign on his next visit, compensation could await now he returns to his happy hunting ground.

It’s difficult to predict with any degree of certainty how much rain will fall prior to race time (due for heavy interludes from lunchtime onwards until well after racing), but if the track does get the quantities forecast, then BRIMHAM ROCKS (best price 14-1) will have a much bigger chance than his current odds imply. Very much an improving gelding, the son of Fastnet Rock has enjoyed a fairly lucrative campaign so far and his victory at Hamilton last time out only further went to endorse his preference for soft underfoot conditions. Prior to that, Ralph Beckett’s charge had been a bit of a disappointment on a fast surface at Newbury so it all boils down to whether the rain does come in time in order for him to run to maximum capacity.

Similarly, ON TO VICTORY (best price 15-2) would also benefit heavily from any significant rainfall and he’s worth chancing at the prices than the wet stuff does come in time. Undone by a muddling pace on fast ground at Newbury last time out, his two best performances visually and on the speed figures have taken part on soft ground and with his yard remaining in top shape, Eve Johnson-Houghton’s inmate should consistent run of form going if he can get his toe in.

JUST JANICE (NAP) (best price 13-2) played a huge part in a useful race on the speed figures at Bellewstown last time out and a repeat of that sort performance should see her go close to capturing this hugely-competitive mares’ only affair. A winner a similarly decent contest at Clonmel the time before, John Kiely’s inmate ended up just being unlucky to bump into the well-handicapped William B on that evening, but with the pair pulling nicely clear of the rest, the race looks fairly reliable. Indeed, the third, fifth and seventh have all gone on to give a nod to the form since and even though she’s dropping back half a mile this afternoon, her pace based on her overall time figures suggests she’ll have the necessary pace to cope. The booking of Ruby Walsh also has to be deemed a massive positive.

HOLLYWOOD DREAM (best price 33-1) made a promising introduction to her racing life at Newbury a month ago and although she remains a difficult one to assess in many ways, her morning odds are too tempting to let her go totally unbacked. Slowly away and hampered at an early stage at the Berkshire venue, William Muir’s inmate was in the process of making some nice ground late on until meeting a walk of horses dropping back in her lap around the furlong pole. Receiving no daylight whatsoever from that point onwards, the daughter of Delegator literally finished her race hard on the bridle leaving the feeling of what might have been to her aggrieved connections. Where she would have finished is anyone’s guess, but quite plainly she’s much better than her final position suggested and therefore, she has a fair bigger chance than her market price today implies if she can handle the likely rain-softened ground (set to fall from lunchtime onwards).

Hopefully, Just Janice will go well in the previous race and thus boost the chances of WILLIAM B (best price 9-2) following suit in this contest. A smooth winner on his first start for new connections at Downpatrick, Gordon Elliot’s inmate followed up when a well-backed favourite next time at Bellewstown and although he only scored by a narrow margin, he left the impression there was more in the tank that the official winning distance suggested (travelled well before stumbling after the last). A big chasing type with plenty of scope for the future, the Yeats gelding still looks on the right side of the assessor.

INDULGED (best price 8-1) has been given plenty of time to fill into her frame by her patient handler, but she should be just about ready now to start to flourish and this looks an ideal opportunity to catapult her into an Autumn campaign via a positive display. Slightly below-par when well-fancied at last year’s meeting here (probably not ready mentally), the Teofilo filly hasn’t really looked back since and her latest performance at Doncaster indicated she’s got plenty of guts to match her undoubted ability. Getting the better of a protracted dual with subsequent winner High Hopes, the pair pulled nicely clear of the rest and with her ability to handle soft ground proven in spades on Town Moor, a wet afternoon on the Downs will inconvenience her chance less than many others.

Having already invested heavily on On Fiddlers Green in the ante post lists only to find he misses the cut, it’s with a heavy heart that the slate is wiped clean with regards trying to find an alternative at this late stage, but having won this race with a lightly-raced second-season novice last year, there’s reasonable chance Gordon Elliot can strike again with A TOI PHIL (best price 16-1). A Grade 2 winning hurdler, the son of Day Flight has pretty much dined at the very top table since he switched his attentions to fences and you only have to look at the names he’s competed against – Disko, Our Duke, Coney Island to mention a few – to see his first season was a proper baptism of fire. He did, however, have his day in the sun when capturing a Grade 2 at Navan last march and although he failed to win on his two subsequent outings, the combination of top-class company and 3m just counted against him. Earlier in the campaign he’d also proven he can handle a big field of handicappers when landing a competitive 18-runner affair at Leopardstown and off just a 6lb higher mark here today, he still appears reasonably well treated on the pick of his very best form. With the tongue-tie on for the first time and underfoot conditions to suit, the seven-year-old could provide Bryan Cooper with the ultimate Harvey Smith moment (1971 Hickstead Derby) following Gigginstown’s decision to dispense with his services as their full-time, number one pilot.

Although HAYMOUNT (best price 20-1) was campaigned over staying trips towards the backend of last season, his early form over much shorter suggests he’s got plenty of pace and being another lightly-raced second season novice with potentially more improvement to come, he, too, has to go onto the shortlist. His victory over subsequent Grade 1 winner, Coney Island, first time out last season not only proved he goes well fresh, but he was going to be a major force over fences during the remainder of the campaign and having proven that notion to be correct many times thereafter, willie Mullins’ inmate has the class and profile to go well in a race that should suit his run style (often races prominently).

TRUTH OR DARE (best price 16-1) has been running consistently well without getting maximum reward, but it’s surely only a matter of time before James Bethell’s charge gets the rub of the green she deserves and with the right breaks, that elusive win could come her way here. Runner-up to Just Hiss is a race at York which has worked out well subsequently, the daughter of Invincible Spirit filled out the same spot when chasing home the high-progressive three-year-old Century Dream next time out at Ayr. On both occasions, the time figure she posted has been of a very high standard, and she’s nicely drawn to obtain an early pose before pouncing on the leaders late on.