Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

Ability to handle this track counts for plenty and having run to a pretty high standard on both visits to the Sussex track, BILLESDON BROOK (best price 9-2) is fancied to follow in the hoof prints of stable mate and half-sister Billsedon Bess, who landed a pattern contest for the same connections at Salisbury two weeks ago. After a series of fine placed efforts, Richard Hannon’s filly finally shed her maiden tag when capturing a novice contest on the all-weather at Kempton and following a fine effort in a listed contest at Sandown which has worked out well (Tajaanus won again), she doubled-up with victory over today’s C&D back here last time out. The feature of that performance was her extraordinary late burst which enabled her to overcome a poor track position two out and although today’s opposition represents a further step up in class, she has the track knowledge and qualities to bridge the gap.

It’s been a while since BALLESTEROS (best price 7-1) chipped in here on the Roodeye, but that long, losing run could well end based on his latest unlucky effort at Beverley. In a similar race to today’s, Richard Fahey’s gelding failed to get the breaks at the right time at the Yorkshire track, but in finishing his race off in pleasing fashion, he went down as one to note in a contest highlighted by its strong overall speed figure. Sure to be suited by today’s likely strong pace again thanks to the presence of Lydia’s Place and Come On Dave, the son of Tomba has every chance to benefit if he can hold his position from his favourable inside draw.

The ratings suggested JUST JANICE (best price 11-1) was always likely to struggle against the very smart mare Mystic Theatre last time out, but she certainly showed enough that day to suggest there are more races to be won with this consistent sort. A winner in a fast time four starts ago at Clonmel, John Kiely’s charge was strongly fancied to go close in a competitive mares’ race at the Galway Festival and although she ran with a deal of credit when fifth to Miss Eyecatcher, she clearly found the 2m on good ground that day counting against her. Back under optimum conditions here this afternoon, double-figure quotes are very tempting considering her upwardly mobile profile.

We may not have seen much of TRUTH OR DARE’s (best price 12-1) success here last time out due to poor visibility, but the speed figure he produced almost suggested he jumped in at the four-furlong pole and he’s strongly fancied to back up that view on his return visit to the Sussex track. Held up off solid early fractions, James Bethell’s inmate came through with a powerful charge as the field went into the fog and coming out the other side fully two lengths ahead, it’s clear that he turned on the afterburners in that deadly mid-race manoeuvre. A closer inspection into that strong burst indicated that the son of Invincible Spirit ran the last half mile in a quicker sectional than the Group 1 Sussex Stakes won by Here Comes When, so based on those findings, it’s pretty clear that this improving six-year-old still has the look of a well-handicapped horse.

Having run well against the bias in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood on his most recent outing, INVINCIBLE ARMY (best price 6-1) is fancied to put up another bold show on ground that should also suit better. For the first two days of the Glorious Meeting, the stands side proved the place to be at the Sussex venue, so being drawn out in the car park in stall 1 of the 10-strong field clearly put James Tate’s charge at a huge disadvantage from the get-go. To his ultimate credit, therefore, to get within two lengths of the eventual winner Havana Grey (runner-up in a Group 1 since) has to be considered as a terrific effort by the son of Invincible Spirit and as the ground would have also been seen as a massive negative, the performance deserves upgrading two-fold. Prior to that excellent effort, he’d also showed up well on rain-softened turf in a Group 2 at Newmarket, and given that he posted his best set of figures on a fast terrain at the same venue the time before, there’s a decent chance he can turn the form around with Cardsharp, who was 3 lengths his superior that afternoon.

Although yet to tackle pattern company, NOBLEMAN’S NEST (best price 14-1) has shaped like he’s worthy of his place in this line-up and he, too, will also enjoy the drying conditions on the Knavesmire. An eye-catcher in a hot maiden first time up, Simon Crisford’s inmate scored in pretty ready fashion on his latest outing at Newmarket and with both sets of speed figures indicating he isn’t too far off top-class standard after just two runs, he has to be worth a roll of the dice with the potential of much more to come.

Declan Carroll received a mighty blow when he lost the potentially very smart Santry last month, but hopefully ABEL HANDY (best price 20-1) can provide the Malton handler with some sort of cheer in this competitive-lloking listed prize. An all-the-way winner first time out at Nottingham, the son of Arcano had the misfortune to bump into the useful One Minute when next seen over today’s course, but it was nice to see him keep on really willingly once headed all the same. Resuming his front-running role last time out at Thirsk, this sharp two-year-old clocked a very fast time for a juvenile and that raw speed which is often associated with today’s track can enable him to punch above his weight.

As with many previous meeting on the July course, the stands side rail seemed to be a golden highway here yesterday, so with the ideal stall position to take advantage of a good, clean break, GIFTED MASTER (NAP) (best price 9-2) will be hard to peg back if bagging the early lead. A very smart two-year-old, Hugo palmer’s inmate rather lost his way following two early victories at the start of the last campaign, but in-keeping with many horses from his yard, the green shoots of recovery appeared to be drifting over horizon courtesy of a well-needed success at Doncaster last time out. Dropping back to 6f having failed on several attempts over further, the son of Kodiac saw off his three useful rivals with aplomb and with connections taking the trouble to bring Pat Smullen over the Irish Sea (won on him three times) the combination look too good to resist.