Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

Jessica Harrington has been cleaning up with her juveniles in recent times and following a promising effort on her debut at Naas, NOPE (best price 6-4) rates a strong fancy to add to her trainer’s tally.

Green and in rear early, the daughter of No Nay Never picked up really nicely in the final two furlongs and the way she hit the line gave out positive signals for the future. With the form of that race at the Co Kildare venue boosted by the third and fourth over the weekend and with likely improvement to come, it will be disappointing if she couldn’t take care of a field of this nature.

Not the strongest maiden ever run in Ireland and it looks well within the capabilities of ROYAL AIDE (best price 7-1), who caught the eye with an encouraging performance at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Unable to go the early gallop over seven-furlongs, Aidan O’Brien’s colt found himself with more in front of him than behind as the field turned for home, but in coming with a late rattle down the outside, he managed to salvage something from the wreckage with a creditable third-placed finish. Being out of Galileo and having raced over further on his two previous starts, a step back up to a more suitable trip this evening should suit and with professional handling in the saddle also seen as a massive positive to his chances, he rates a solid each-way proposition at the morning odds.

TRUEBA (NAP) (best price 6-1) intimated the wait wouldn’t be too long for him to break his duck with a fine effort against the track bias at Down Royal two starts ago and now that he has gone and poked his head in front, it wouldn’t come as huge surprise if he weren’t to add to his tally.

Stuck out on the wing in the early stages at the Co Down venue a month ago due to a poor draw, Johnny Murtagh’s gelding did remarkably well to serve it up to the front two given how much ground he gave away and that excellent performance only served as a pre-cursor to what happened at Naas last time out. Once again posted out in the cheap seats in stall 22 of the 22-strong field, the three-year-old tacked his way over to join the main bunch at the halfway stage and keeping on strongly all the way to the line, he managed to fend off a whole series of challengers to score going away. On an afternoon when it very much paid to be drawn low and race towards the far rail, his effort in victory deserved a huge amount of credit, so even though the handicapper has done his level best to try and halt his progress, a statutory rise may not be enough to keep up with his level of improvement.