Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Even though SOTO SIZZLER (best price 8-1) has yet to run over 1m2f, he’s not short of boot, and having won on the last three times he’s raced on an undulating track, Willie Knight’s gelding is fancied to go some way to maintain that fine record.

Runner-up on his first start at the Sussex venue last May, the son of Mastercraftsman went one place better on his return visit at the big meeting three months later and that introduced him into the world of big staying handicaps where only a few tend to flourish. Winner of the ever-popular Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom on his season outing this term, the four-year-old duly followed up over the same C&D at the Derby fixture and even though he couldn’t quite complete the hat trick at Kempton last time out, a runner-up spot behind the progressive Deja could hardly be described as a backward step. In what’s likely to be a strong-run race, hopefully his stamina will come into play towards the business end.

Several intriguing runners here, with the likes of Zaaki and Hey Gaman, quite rightly capturing much of the attention in the markets, but the one who seems to have slipped through the net a shade based on his price and that’s the ever-consistent SUEDOIS (best price 11-1) who makes plenty of appeal as a an each-way alternative to the ‘big two’ in the betting.

A grand servant to connections over the years, David O’Meara’s gelding clearly loves it here as he was runner-up in this race in 2017 and he followed that up with another excellent effort twelve months ago. Just nailed on the line by Sir Dancealot, the son of Le Havre did pretty much everything right in his bid to get back on the winning trail and although he’s continued to cut a figure of frustration since, he keeps knocking at the door. A creditable third at Ascot last time when his stamina over a mile was exposed in a viciously-run affair, the strong-travelling eight-year-old now reverts to his optimum distance with cheekpieces on for the first time, a combination that will hopefully work the oracle.

RAVEN’S CRY (NAP) (best price 5-1) ran a race full of promise on her debut at Bellewstown a month ago and this Moyglare entry should go some way to vindicating that audacious target on her second start. Well fancied according to the betting at the sharp, right-handed venue, Paddy Twomey’s filly travelled strongly going down to the two-furlong pole and although she kept on well enough all the way to the line from that point onwards, should didn’t quite have enough knowhow to cope with the more experienced Secret Stash. Not knocked about in any way, the daughter of Raven’s Pass should be all the wiser for that initial experience and hailing from a yard that is beginning to gain a reputation as being one of the shrewder set-ups in Ireland, she’s fancied to make her presence felt.

NUMERIAN (best price 9-2) was a massive eye-catcher in the ultra-competitive Britannia Handicap at the Royal meeting a month ago and with that run sure to have given Joseph O’Brien’s colt a taste of what big-field handicaps are all about, he should have garnered enough knowledge to put up another bold show in this equally-tricky puzzle.

In good form during the all-weather season at Dundalk, it was still a leap of faith by connections to send him to the Berkshire venue on the back of only six career starts, but he answered every call by running on strongly from the back of the field to finish a never-nearer fifth. Despite a run-style which suggests he may not be able to take advantage of his favoured low draw, hopefully he can at least hold a position whereby he isn’t too far off the early speed and providing that turns out to be the case, the lightly-raced and progressive three-year-old can play a major part in proceedings towards the business end.

A tricky conundrum for punters to solve but both PASSING TRADE (best price 7-1) and CYRUS DALLIN (best price 8-1) have shown enough in recent times to warrant a small interest in their direction against the field.

The former has only won once in 22 starts but she’s mighty consistent and ran well over C&D here last year. In good form as well so far this term, three runner-up spots in her last five starts pay testimony to her current wellbeing and a repeat of her last two efforts when just narrowly defeated, should see her go close from her favourable draw.

Stall 17 is going to test the skills of up-and-coming young apprentice Joey Sheridan on the latter named, but providing he can navigate some sort of passage around this roller-coaster of a circuit, he’ll certainly have the horse underneath him to go close in a race of this nature. Stone bonking last with three to run on his latest outing at Limerick, Denis Hogan’s gelding would have undoubtedly won had he received anything like a clear run down the home straight and even though the handicapper has done his best to try and adjust his sums before it’s too late, just a minimal rise shouldn’t be enough to prevent the top weight from going close based on the evidence of that useful effort 23 days ago.