Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

A rather odd-looking listed race in many respects with so many of the runners with questions to ask, so with that in mind, it may pay to go with solid course form – albeit at a slightly lower level – and hope LAIDBACK ROMEO (best price 10-1) can raise his game sufficiently enough to cause a shock. Although yet to race in pattern company, Clive Cox’s inmate has run to a pretty high standard in some top and well-run handicaps and his latest effort when third to subsequent scorer, Brilliant Vanguard, at Ripon, was noted for its very strong speed figure. Furthermore, his record at today’s track also reads well with two wins and a second on his last three visits to the Esher track and hailing from a stable that is turning base metal into gold at the moment, the son of Kodiac is fancied to punch above his weight with conditions set to dry out in his favour.

INDULGED (best price 9-1) has been given two shocking rides in recent times and she’s fancied to put matters right with connections doing the right thing and booking Ryan Moore to do the job the previous pilot wasn’t up to. Any jockey can get into trouble at Goodwood, so the previous ride probably is forgivable, but to get boxed in facing just four rivals around a track as wide as Nottingham is inept to say the least, but that’s what happened to James Fanshawe’s inmate last time out. To make matters worse, the way she finished off her race once out in the clear only added salt into the wounds of those that supported her into 5-4 favouritism, but at least she rubber-stamped her wellbeing and that torch is carried over in today’s quest for compensation.

There should be plenty of pace on here with Man Look and Arizona Bound in the line-up, so that should really suit SWEET HOLLY (NAP) (best price 7-2) who posted a big speed figure when coming off a strong gallop to score at Market Rasen when last seen. Held up way off the pace set by the front-running Marju’s Quest, Malcolm Jefferson’s inmate hunted down her prey inside the final half mile and she quickly asserted her superiority when others around her fainted. Although the weights and measures strictly give her a bit to find with Mizen Master, she clearly is a better mare than the ratings suggest and she looks booked to go well with plenty in her favour.