Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

HARRY LOVE (NAP) (best price 6-4) is a really likeable type with a touch of quality and he’s strongly fancied to complete a hat trick over a track which highlighted his skills last time out. Having previously been impressive in victory at Thirsk in a decent speed figure, Ollie Pears’ gelding was well-backed to repeat the dose and even though he faced no easy feat from his wide draw, he overcame that slight impediment to once again score in facile fashion. Picking up the running two out, the scopey two-year-old strode out well to the line to again win in a fast time and with the runner-up, Vintage Times, going on to advertise the strength of the form since, it will be disappointing to all concerned if he wasn’t to follow suit from his favourable inside draw next to the fence.

Jovial was extremely well-backed to make a winning debut at Chelmsford 22 days ago, but unfortunately for her supporters, she was crippled by greenness during the race and she could only manage a creditable third. Clearly better than that initial outing suggests, she’s likely to be a different proposition today, but even so, quotes of even money or so look decidedly short for a filly who did hang under pressure at the Essex venue and for that reason, she’s passed over in favour of the other experienced runner, CHARMING SPIRIT (best price 11-4).

Not that massively fancied on her debut at Newbury, her chance was even greater after a furlong or so after she was slightly on heels coming out of the gates and that meant she was towards the rear of the field at halfway. Although she never looked like landing a blow to the main players, she did, however, come home with a degree of purpose without being knocked about and with just normal improvement, she should have enough knowhow to make a better fist of things this afternoon.

SUEDOIS (best price 9-2) could be called a slightly exasperating character, but at the same time, there’s no denying his reliability and following another unlucky run over today’s C&D last time out, he’s expected to once again be right in the thick of the action.

Placed twice in the Lennox Stakes in previous renewals, David O’Meara’s gelding attempted to make it third time lucky on his return visit 26 days ago and although he failed in his bid to end a long losing run, his path was littered with one bit of ill fortune after another. Trapped in towards the rail seemingly going as well as anything approaching two out, the son of le Havre was forced to check several time at crucial stages and by the time he’d extricated himself from the pocket, the race was done and dusted as far as the win part of the equation was concerned. Having to settle for a gallant third was the least he deserved and if he repeats the level of form he showed that day or the one he achieved at Newmarket the time before behind today’s main rival Limato, the eight-year-old should reward each-way support at the very least.