Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

IMPRESSOR (NAP) (best price 11-4) created a favourable impression on his debut in a useful maiden at Goodwood and providing he shows the expected improvement second time around, he looks booked to take high rank hailing from a yard in decent nick at present.

Not overly fancied at the Sussex venue, hence his 20-1 starting price, the son of Footstepsinthesand broke better than anticipated to race just on the heels of the leaders after a couple of furlongs. Still going well enough running down to the business end of the contest, Marcus Tregoning’s colt then became the meat in the sandwich as general bunching in behind the leaders occurred and although he managed to free himself of the scrimmaging inside the final furlong, a staying fourth was the best he could achieve. Certainly not knocked about in any way late on, Impressor will have learnt plenty of valuable lessons that day, none more so than how to look after himself in a battle, and given that those in and around him that day all came with big reputations, he should have no trouble holding his own against similar opposition this afternoon.

It’s a bit of gamble stepping CARDY (best price 7-2) up almost a full mile since winning over today’s course last time out but it has to be seen as a considered one given how strong he was in the latter part of the race 15 days ago and his background.

Outpaced in series of novice events over the minimum trip, Harry Whittingham’s gelding looked to be following a similar path here two weeks ago until he suddenly picked up the bridle and flew home to score going away. Based on the overall speed figure he posted and his backend splits, he clearly needs a test of stamina to see him to full effect and having run well in a three-mile point-to-point on soft ground, you’d imagine today’s examination under ever-worsening conditions would be right up his street.

The maiden won by Lancaster Bomber on the penultimate day of the Galway Festival was noted for its strong pace that resulted in a very fast speed figure and having both caught the eye with the way they finished off their races in second and sixth respectively, DARKENED (best price 3-1) and CANNING (best price 11-1) are expected to play roles in this arguably slightly weaker-looking event on paper.

The former had shaped with promise on his opening gambit at Limerick back in June and was well-fancied to hold his own second time up at Ballybrit, and so it proved. Staying on strongly after getting outpaced coming down the side of the course, John Oxx’s gelding came home with a good degree of purpose once meeting the rising ground and even though he didn’t have the necessary pace to make any serious inroads on the winner, it still wasn’t a bad effort up against a horse who looked for all the world like a Group performer in the making.

Trainer Luke Comer wouldn’t necessarily be associated with maiden winners at the big festival, so it was no surprise to see his charge sent off a 50-1 poke 11 days ago. However, his promising three-year-old colt cover himself with glory with a superb effort on just his second career start and he looks the type who will continue to improve – especially over further. The way he came home after being a fair way behind at halfway certainly lends itself to that theory and it would come as no surprise if he proved good enough to make the frame at the very least.

MOUNTAIN FOX (best price 10-1) did extremely well to finish as close as he did over tonight’s course last time out after being forced to race wide throughout the entire journey and although he hasn’t been done too many favours on the draw front again on his return visit, he’s still fared a damn sight better than his old rival Scorpion Black.

While eventual winner had the luxury of bagging the favoured inside rail from box one 59 days ago, the son of Fast Company was out in the cheap seats in stall 17, so given that he only got beaten three lengths in the final analysis tells you all you need to know about his performance that day. Moreover, as all his best form has come over further than a mile in the past, his effort deserves even extra merit and now returning to a trip that is more in-keeping with his overall profile, another solid display looks forthcoming from a six-year-old who’s stats at the course read a reasonable 22743.