Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

THE OLYMPIAN (best price 3-1) left the impression he should have won last time out at Goodwood and he’s afforded another chance to vindicated that opinion at the third time of asking. Having caught the eye from an improbable position on debut at Windsor, Alan King’s inmate was strongly fancied in many quarters to go one place better when he shipped up in a similar race at the Sussex venue 28 days ago, and although he made a brave fist of matters in the closing stages, ultimately his mid-race malaise proved his undoing.

Hopefully, the Olympic Glory colt will be a good deal more switched on when the pace increases this afternoon as today’s wide open spaces and galloping nature of the course threaten to suit him down to the ground.

PREFONTAINE (NAP) (best price 15-8) has gradually improved with each run and being the only runner in the field already proven at the trip, he’s rates a confident choice to back up his previous success at Nottingham. Showing promise on his two starts at Haydock over a mile, Roger Varian’s colt really came into his own when given an extra two furlongs to race over at the Midland track last time out and even at this early stage in his career, he looks a strong stayer who simply gallops all day long.

From having plenty to do at halfway, this scopey three-year-old was soon in command and with his long stride and stamina tailor made for the rigours of today’s track, the son of Mastercraftsman can round off his season in style.

Shareva sets the standard here – albeit a pretty tame one – and she’s readily passed over in favour of DAPPER POWER (best price 11-4) who shaped really nicely on debut and has a good deal more scope. Clearly a late developer, having his first run as a four-year-old, the son of Dandy Man showed all the traits of a horse having his first day at school in the early stages, but the way he finished off his race in the final furlongs suggested he will know a good deal more next time.

Indeed, had Edward Lynam’s gelding not met for interference at a crucial stage, he would have probably finished in the money at the very least and with the physical scope to develop into quite a nice type as time progresses, he’s fancied to put that initial experience to good use back at the scene of that promising opening gambit.

A wide open finale to the Fixed Brush Series for novices’ but both FRANKY DU BERLAIS (best price 7-1) and CAPTAIN PEACOCK (best price 10-1) have run to a pretty high standard during the summer months and they are taken against the field. 

The former got the better of the latter in a protracted dual over today’s C&D last time out and that victory was no more than he deserved after a couple of solid placed efforts previously. Headed by his main market rival that day, Peter Bowen’s gelding impressed with the way he fought back gamely on the run-in and with the time figure by far and away the best on the eight-race card, it was clearly an above-average one for the time of year. 

Although beaten fair and square on the day, Oliver Sherwood’s top weight isn’t without his chance of turning around the tables with his old rival on the grounds of this bigger field and similarly strong pace is bound to play into his strengths. Impressing on both his previous two victories with the way he travelled throughout each contest, the son of Champs Elysees has ideal conditions to put up another bold show hailing from an in-form stable.

Tide Of Time ran out quite an impressive winner over today’s C&D last time out and he may well go on and repeat the dose, but back in the field, BUILDING YEAR (best price 10-1) caught the eye in in no uncertain terms and he’s worth a small interest to see whether he can receive a bit more luck in running on this occasion.

Switched towards the far side from his high draw 10 days ago, that early manoeuvre ended up counting against John McConnell’s gelding as noted travelling well in behind the speed coming down the hill, he then encountered severe traffic problems at a crucial stage. Once finally getting a little daylight, the four-year-old finished his race of to a degree that suggested he would have been involved in the finish had he received a trouble-free run and using last week’s result as a guide as to where the best place on the track might be, his low stall position this afternoon should give him the ideal springboard to muster up a better challenge this time around.

Of the rest, Amazing One also caught the eye in a similar fashion in the same race, but given that the high numbers were seemingly at a disadvantage here last week, stall 17 might prove a difficult barrier to overcome.