Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

The Wolferton Stakes was one of the most keenly-contested races all week at Royal Ascot and having run a splendid race to finish a creditable fourth, LATROBE (NAP) (best price 3-1) rates a big fancy to regain the winning thread.

Pinned down on the inside at the Berkshire track from his low draw, Joseph O’Brien’s colt was always rowing against the tide racing on the worst part of the track, but not for one second did he ever give up the ghost and he kept on bravely all the way to the line to force a photo with two others behind easy winner, Addeybb. Amazingly, the son of Camelot hasn’t managed to win since landing the Irish Derby here last year, but as most of his races have been up against the very best in Group 1 company, he should find tonight’s opposition a little easier to handle.

Since stepped up in trip, GINGER FOX (best price 6-1) has yet to run a bad race and with two of those three efforts coming over today’s track, another solid display looks in the offing. Runner-up to the useful Migration at Newmarket three starts ago, Ian Williams’ inmate filled out the same position on his most recent outing when returning to Town Moor and with the speed figure indicating it was a race of some substance, it’s hard to knock his performance. Prior to that run, he’d also finished close up fourth in another quality three-year-old contest won by Artistic Rifles and having finished just on the heels of subsequent recent easy Newmarket winner, Moqtarreb, the form reads pretty strong in the context of today’s race.

The maiden over today’s C&D won by ALBIGNA (best price 9-2) a month ago was a pretty useful contest in terms of quality and over speed figures, so it makes perfect sense to stay loyal to that particular form line despite the presence of quite a few similarly promising fillies.

Waited with just in behind the speed, Jessica Harrington’s filly was noted going well on the approach to the final furlong and once the gaps came inside the distance, she quickened up well to score in decisive fashion. As expected, the race has worked out really well subsequently with three of those beaten in behind all going on to score since and hailing from a stable in-form and always dangerous at these big meetings at the Co Kildare venue, the daughter of Zoffany should turn out to be a massive player.

Although beaten two lengths in the same race on debut, A NEW DAWN (best price 25-1) also comes into the equation on several counts. Firstly, Joseph O’Brien’s filly might have finished a good deal closer 35 days ago but for being badly bumped when about to mount a challenge inside the final furlong and secondly, she went on to post a decent number of her own just two days ago at Naas. In defying a low draw at the Co Kildare venue, A New Dawn landed some sizeable bets in the process and even though she lacks the physical scope of many of her rivals, she clearly has a decent engine to offset that slight negative.

A pretty poor race to conclude the card and this 0-60 handicap should be well within the compass of VICTORY ROSE (best price 14-1) based on the position she’s been keeping in her short career.

Having just had the three runs, Lydia Pearce’s filly is quite difficult to assess in many respects but it’s fair to say the handicapper has certainly given her every chance if she can now apply herself in the correct manner. Unsuited by soft ground at Lingfield two starts ago, she still managed to run to a fair level, highlighted by the fact that despite being badly drawn she only got beaten five lengths by subsequent listed winner Tapisserie. In quite deep at Wolverhampton when last seen, she found the smart Alkaraama too hot to handle in the closing stages but given that Sir Michael Stoute’s colt is highly regarded at his Newmarket base, it wasn’t a bad effort at all by the daughter of Bated Breath. Back on turf on a drying surface that should suit, she has to be worth a small each-way interest to see whether an opening mark of 60 underestimates her previous endeavours.

MAGICAL RHYTHMS (best price 10-3) caught the eye in a major way on debut at Windsor and in-keeping with many of her inmates after such a run, she’s strongly fancied to take the necessary step forward with just normal improvement.

Slowly away and well behind at halfway, John Gosden’s filly still had plenty on her plate as the field swept past the intersection, but picking up takingly inside the final furlong, she came home to really good effect to finish full of running just on the heels of the main players. Including in that leading line, subsequent winners Specialise and Ocean Paradise have gone on to boost the form and even though jockey bookings suggest Fabulist might be the one to be with from the same yard, the daughter of Pioneerof The Nile might have something to say regarding those particular bragging rights.