Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

The closest form guide to a race of this nature comes via the Epsom Dash on Derby Day and having been a big eye-catcher in that event at the Surrey track a month ago, HAROME (best price 25-1) looks a massive price to vindicate the opinion how unlucky he was that day.

Impeded leaving the gates, Roger Fell’s inmate found himself a good way off the pace in one of the world’s fastest sprint contests and it seemed implausible that he would get within striking distance of the main players. Finishing to good effect, however, the five-year-old charged through the field to finish a never-nearer sixth and with a little more luck in running, he would have undoubtably gained a place on the podium. Remaining in excellent heart based on his two performances at Ayr earlier this week, Harome makes the most appeal of those yet to set foot on Ascot’s hallowed turf.

There’s bound to be several useful newcomers in a race of this nature, but TIRITOMBA (best price 12-1) has the all-important experience on her side having caught the eye on her debut at Windsor and she receives a fairly confident vote to better her finishing position at the Berkshire track at the very least. Slowly away and green in the early strides, it looked as though Richard Hannon’s filly was going to finish out with the washing at halfway, but once the penny started to drop inside the final furlong, she impressed by the way she went strongly through the line. Likely to know more this time, the daughter of Exceed And Excel can outrun her morning odds.

Some cracking juveniles on show in what should turn out to be an informative contest and MYSTERY POWER (best price 10-1) looks the one who has been underestimated in the morning markets. Up against a hotpot of Mark Johnston’s at Haydock, who’d already had the benefit if previous run, Richard Hannon’s colt shrugged aside his inexperience with a performance of some quality. Quickening smartly in the closing stages to leave his main market rival for dead, the son of No Nay Never clocked a decent overall time and closing sectionals respectively and hailing from a yard that is really hitting the straps with their two-year-olds, this exciting type is expected to punch above his weight.

Previous C&D form invariably has some sort of impact in races of this nature and having fought out the finish to last season’s renewal of this valuable prize, BURNT SUGAR (best price 12-1) and SPANISH CITY (best price 13-2) are worth taking against the field twelve months on.

The former is usually seen to best effect when coming off a strong pace in races of this nature and that was very much the case in this race last year. Unsuited by soft ground on both starts this term, a return to his optimum conditions are bound to see him in a much better light and he looks nicely drawn down the middle where most of the action is likely to unfold late on.

The latter is always worth considering in these big seven-furlong handicaps and providing he receives the rub if the green, he has a fair shout of finally gaining his just rewards for many fine placed efforts in recent times. Third over a furlongs shorter here last time out, that effort should put him spot on for today’s assignment and it’s hard to see him not having some sort of say in the final outcome given his overall level of form and consistency.

A big field but quite a lot of deadwood and it’s a race well within the capabilities of SUN SIGN (best price 5-1) of what we’ve seen of her in her short career so far.

Promising on her debut for new connections when just running out of steam on her first outing for 592 days at Fairyhouse a month ago, Denise Foster’s filly then caught the eye with the way she finished off her race at Naas last time out. Slowly away and detached at halfway, the four-year-old finished her race off to great effect to claim a never-nearer third on the line and with today’s extra yardage and stiffer track sure to play into her strengths, she must have great chance of getting off the mark providing her outside draw doesn’t prove her undoing.

JAZEEL (best price 12-1) has been a model of consistency since switching stables and being gelded and his good run looks set to continue despite the complex nature of this ultra-competitive handicap. Runner-up on his first two starts this season at Newmarket and Epsom, Jedd O’Keeffe’s gelding served notice in both races he’s totally at home in big ‘Saturday’ handicaps and he finally got his just rewards for his endeavours when a narrow-margin winner at Sandown eight days ago. Just getting the nod in a wild finish, the four-year-old showed great tenacity to fend off deep-closers on either side and with today’s big field and likely strong pace very much suitable to his nature of running, he rates a sound each-way investment with some firms paying down to six places.

The gap between top-class handicaps and Group races – particularly over sprint trips – is not as far apart as one would imagine and based on CAPE BYRON’S (best price 7-1) speed figure he posted when landing the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, Roger Varian’s gelding should turn out to be a massive player on his first attempt against the big boys.

The son of Shamardal has always been highly regarded, but it’s only since he’s been gelded that he’s really come into his own and after steadily working his way through the ranks, he finally delivered the goods in the Victoria Cup at the Berkshire venue two starts ago. Good on the clock that day back in May, the five-year-old was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his return visit a month later and after travelling well in behind the speed down the middle of the track, he came through with a powerful late surge to justify his position in the market and beat 25 opponents with a bit to spare. Running the last three furlongs in 34.8, he covered the latter part of the race 0.7 seconds quicker than The Diamond Jubilee winner, Blue Point, and those numbers certainly suggest connections have every right to have a shot at Group 1 glory. Moreover, it’s also worth pointing out that he was quicker in the same half of the race than Dream Of Dreams (34.9) and as Sir Michael Stoute’s inmate has been chalked up as one of the market leaders in most lists, it makes even more sense to see Cape Byron in the line-up. With the likes of Danzeno and Summerghand boosting the form at Haydock last weekend, along with Raucous yesterday, the chestnut gelding really does have plenty of things going in his favour and with a likely strong pace sure to play into his strengths over the demanding nature of the July Course (Major Jumbo should take them along at a fair clip), he rates a cast-iron each-way proposition at his morning odds.

BREANSKI (best price 7-2) was a gallant third here yesterday over a mile, but today’s furlong less should help his cause no end and he’s fancied to go two places better on his quick return to the Berkshire venue. Noted travelling well towards the rear of the field, the son of Delegator was brought with what looked a winning challenge at the furlong pole, but unfortunately, he succumbed to two even stronger finishers close home and he had to settle for a minor role. On the evidence of that performance a drop down in trip should prove ideal, and providing he gets switched off early, similar to yesterday, he should come charging through in the closing stages.