Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

SLOANE GARDEN (NAP) (best price 2-1) may lack the experience of her main market rival Morning Duel, but there’s little doubt she rates the better long-term prospect and she’s fancied to back up that viewpoint in what looks a very winnable contest.

A promising third on her debut over six furlongs at Yarmouth back in July, James Tate’s filly was well-backed to vindicate the impression she created that day over a furlong further next time out at Lingfield, and although she came up a little short in the final analysis, the figures she posted suggested she showed marked improvement. In a race run at a strong gallop from the outset, the daughter of Iffraaj was always comfortable going the pace set by the well-backed Lady Bowthrope, and although she could never quite get to within the throat-latch of the bold front runner, she kept on willingly all the way to the line. Looking at the numbers the winner achieved at the Surrey track, it was little wonder she couldn’t go by a filly who knocked out final two furlongs splits of 22.3 – which were the faster than the two sprint races on the same card – but at least it proved she could run around a sharp track at a fair pace and that experience should stand her in good stead when she comes to face-to-face with today’s tight, left-hand circuit.

Without wishing to put a complete fork in the chance of Morning Duel, who has a fair level of form, the main danger could emulate from Modakhar, who shaped with plenty of promise on his debut at Haydock. Fading late on to finish a seven-length fourth to Vitralite after looking threatening three out, it’s interesting that trainer of the winner that day, Karl Burke, went to 33k to secure his services at a recent sale and he looks the type who will improve with more experience.

Both SWEET PURSUIT (best price 5-2) and Rose Hip arrive here right on top of their game, but the former receives the vote an account of her superior course form. In tremendous form this time last season, Rod Millman’s mare looks like she could be following a similar pattern based on her winning performance at Bath last time and it would come as no surprise if she were to repeat the dose. Held up towards the back of the field in what turned out to be a true-run race at the Somerset track, the daughter of Pastoral Pursuits came with a withering run down the outside to throw down a challenge inside the distance and needing every yard of the extended five-furlong trip, she got up to score in the shadows of the post. Clocking a big number in the process, it’s interesting to note that of the three horses that have run out of the race subsequently, Secret Potion has won, and both Delegate This Lord and Princely have finished in the frame - so the form looks pretty solid. Clearly at her best when coming with a strong run from off the pace, hopefully Wotadoll will go a decent gallop from the front, and if that proves to be the case, the five-year-old has every chance of making up for last year when she was a slightly unlucky runner-up to Curious Fox in a slowly-run affair.