Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

ARIGATO (NAP) (best price 4-1) knocked out some fair numbers when hosing up over today’s C&D last time out and with conditions set to ride a good deal in his favour for return visit, William Jarvis’ gelding looks primed to repeat the dose.

Beaten by the well-handicapped Mandanny (seventh from a bad draw in the Hunt Cup subsequently) at Yarmouth on his seasonal reappearance, there one or two question marks as to whether the son of Poet’s Voice would be equally effective on softer ground 15 days later, but as it proved, the adverse conditions made not one jot of difference. Always travelling well in the hands of Josephine Gordon, the five-year-old eased to the front two furlongs from home and from that point onward, he steadily drew further and further clear. Stylish in both the manner of his victory and on the clock, he thoroughly deserved his subsequent rise in the ratings and hailing from a yard who banged in another winner here yesterday, Arigato is taken to register another small-field success (all five career wins in field sizes of 10 or less).

VALE OF KENT (best price 7-2) wouldn’t be the classiest of this Group 3 line-up, but what he may lack in star quality, he more than makes up for with a tremendous winning mentality and that trait looks set to provide him with every chance of slaying some more high-profile names.

Although he’s gone six runs without a win, some of his efforts in defeat have been of the very highest order and his latest effort in the Royal Hunt Cup underlines that point. Setting a strong pace in the big handicap feature of day two of the Royal meeting, Mark Johnston’s gelding was still bang there with a furlong to go although he ended up being gobbled up by three more patiently-ridden rivals, he still managed to pull well clear of the rest. Not really having the run style to see out a stiff mile over a track where it’s virtually impossible to make all the running, today’s course offers more leniency on that score and with a drop down to arguably his optimum distance seen as another positive, the son of Kodiac can put up a bold bid with his heart flapping on his sleeve.

As he proved once again at Royal Ascot, Alan King is becoming a dab hand with his stayers on the Flat and RAINBOW DREAMER (best price 7-1) has all the right credentials to provide the Barbury Castle handler with another profitable valuable pot.

Since Who Dares Wins landed this prize last season, King has scooped big-race prizes with the likes of Trueshan, Couer De Lion, Scarlett Dragon and with the former horse in the 2m6f Queen Alexander last week and based on his overall profile and the way he’s been campaigned, Rainbow Dreamer looks like he’s had this race in mind for quite some time. The son of Aqlaam has been in flying form over the winter with victories over the likes of Funny Man and Mildenburger to name but two and although his winning run came to an end over today’s C&D last time out, his overall performance was in no way a backward step. A little keen for his own good early, he paid for those exertions late on, but the fact the time figure of the race was so good and it was his first run for after a four-month break all added up as viable excuses on the day. Likely to be tighter in conditions and with the fix taken out of him, hopefully Hollie Doyle can settle the seven-year-old into a decent rhythm in mid-pack from stall 15 and providing he’s within striking distance turning for home, his normal late charge can come in effect.

ANCIENT SPIRIT (best price 4-1) clocked a useful speed figure when fending off a whole series of late challengers at Navan last time out and he looks set to continue the fine run of the Jessica Harrington stable.

A shade disappointing when in the care of Jim Bolger previously, the son of Invincible Spirit was well-backed to make an immediate impact on his first outing for new connections and having set his stall out from an early stage at the Co Meath venue, he duly landed the spoils. Rallying to the call once headed by Buckhurst, the five-year-old impressed with the way he knuckled down to the task at hand and with several of the defeated opponents in behind giving a solid feel to the race, his performance deserves a good deal of praise. Likely to be ridden in a similarly positive fashion, he could prove a tough nut to crack again at the head of affairs.

For those who fancy Bowerman here this evening – and many do – then BROAD STREET (best price 17/2) has to come into the equation based on his run behind Ado McGuinness’ gelding over the C&D last time out. Having his first run for new connections since leaving Dermot Weld, the five-year-old was noted going just as well as the winner with two furlongs to run, but whereas Bowerman ended up getting a dream run up the far side rail, Luke Comer’s entire had to sit and suffer until the gap appeared. By the time he’d extricated himself out of the pocket the bird had flown, but at least he came home with the sort of pep in his step to suggest he would have played a more prominent role with a clearer run. As a rule, his draw today in stall 13 on the outside wing would be of some concern, but with the showers around then who knows where they will end up racing. Either way, he looks overpriced based on his latest exploits and he remains an interest contender in a wide-open affair.

A devilishly difficult premier handicap for punters, but it is a race ICE COLD IN ALEX (best price 9-2) should more than hold his own. A real regular at the Co Kildare venue, Ken Condon’s gelding made his seasonal debut over today’s course 15 days ago and over a trip just short of his best, he ran about as well as could be expected in finishing a close-up fourth in an ultra-competitive six-furlong handicap. Keeping on well late on after moving through the race nicely, the six-year-old left the impression that he would be all the sharper for the run and with a return to his optimum distance a welcome bonus, he has every chance of keeping intact his recent form figures at today’s track that read 612344.

A different feel to Ireland’s premier middle-distance classic in the sense the usual runners from the English version aren’t the normal port of call for obvious reasons, so in these strange times, it may pay to be a little more flexible than normal and look towards the lightly-raced types, FISCAL RULES (best price 8-1) and TIGER MOTH (best price 16-1) in the hope they show the improvement necessary to figure in a race of this nature.

The former has at least tasted what it’s like to run against Group 1 horses and he was by no means disgraced in the Irish 2000 Guineas here at the last meeting. Sent into battle following just one run as a juvenile, Jim Bolger’s colt was asked a big question up against the likes of Siskin and Co in what looked decent renewal on paper and as it turned out, he covered himself with glory in finishing a close-up fifth. Indeed, he may have improved his position had he received a clearer run at a crucial stage, but at least he came home with the sort of juice left in the tank to suggest he will do better over further and with that all-important experience under his belt. In the care of a trainer who has a certain cavalier approach to some of these bigger races, at the same time, victories by both St Jovite and Trading Leather suggest the canny Coolcullen handler has been around long enough to know what he’s doing when it comes to preparing one for this prize and with the dam’s side of his pedigree having a distinct influence on stamina, hopefully today’s extra half a mile will count in his favour.

The latter has also only had just the two starts, but he’s progressing nicely and he looks the type who could easily make a huge step forward. Promising on his only start at two in a race which has worked out a treat this season, Aidan O’Brien’s colt showed a decent attitude when getting the better of a fair field in maiden at Leopardstown 18 days ago and on the evidence of that display at the Co Kildare venue, he looks to have a bright future. Whether he’ll prove good enough for today’s test only time will tell, but it is worth bearing in mind his stable has won this race with quite a few unheralded types in the past and although he may be down the pecking order for many based on jockey bookings, it wouldn’t come as the biggest shock in the world to this writer if he were to punch above his weight.