Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Jessica Harrington has an embarrassment of riches in the two-year-old fillies’ category this season with the likes of Albigna, Cayenne Pepper, and Alpine Star already proven at a high level and although it’s premature to suggest CHASING THE DAWN (best price 9-4) will join her illustrious stable mates, she certainly shaped well enough on her debut to give connections high hopes for the future.

Sent to the Galway Festival for her opening gambit, the daughter of Acclamation was soon chasing the speed after just slightly missing the break and although she looked threatening rounding the home turn, she ultimately just couldn’t quite live with the turn of foot and experience of the previously twice-raced Petite Mustique. However, with her conqueror that day going on to finish a creditable runner-up in a Group 2 contest next time, she clearly ran to a fair level first time off the shelf and looking the type who would improve in every department from that initial experience, the scopey filly is fancied to take advantage of a drop back to six furlongs and what should turn out to be a favourable draw (high numbers held a significant advantage on the straight track at the last meeting).

A change of scenery certainly didn’t do DOUBLY CLEVER (NAP) (best price 11-4) any harm based on his victory over today’s C&D last time out and he’s taken to follow up back at a track that clearly plays into his strengths.

A winner of a seller for previous connections, the son of Iffraaj was bought by Johnny Farrelly after finishing runner-up in a similar contest at Stratford back in July and that shrewdness was quickly repaid when he did the business here a month later. Always going nicely behind a strong pace, the eight-year-old then found plenty for pressure in the closing stages when hard pressed by the in-form The Vollan and with the pair well clear of the rest, there’s no reason to doubt the authenticity of the contest. Looking back at his career history and it’s noticeable that two of his better performances have also taken place at today’s Midland venue off marks of 124 and 128 respectively, so even though he got dumped up for winning 18 days ago, his new perch is still within the sort of range of his former glories.