Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

So Wonderful inexplicably still remains a maiden after ten starts despite featuring heavily in some of the best fillies’ races around and although today’s contest represents a drop in grade compared to some of those challenges in recent times, she may suffer a similar fate here this afternoon up against the hugely-talented KNOW IT ALL (best price 4-1).

Although behind her old rival when they last met in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last season, Johnny Murtagh’s filly has improved immeasurably since and her latest effort over today’s course very much suggests she’s still going the right way. Badly hampered coming out of the back straight here 22 days ago, the daughter of Lord Kanaloa finished her race of from the rear of the field to such a degree that she left the impression she would have scored comfortably with anything like a clear run and even though at the time it must have been a bitter pill for connections to swallow, they at least know they have a filly to go to war with for the remainder of the campaign. Untried at a mile, at least the signals were there last time that she has every chance of getting the trip, and if it wasn’t for the lurking presence of the favourite, confidence would be extremely high for her getting off the mark for the season.

A competitive-looking 1m2f handicap, but there are a couple in the shape of RED KELLY (best price 16-5) and DASHING DIAMOND (best price 20-1) that could have more to offer in a race of this nature and they are worth playing against the field.

The former is easily the most interesting runner in the field based on his profile and his latest performance over today’s C&D also marks him down as a strong candidate for a handicap campaign off his opening mark of just 68. Down the field in two heavy ground maidens towards the backend of last season, Johnny Murtagh’s colt was pitched into a very warm-looking contest following a 239-day break and although he failed to make any discernible impact to those towards the head of the pack, he did catch the eye with the way he finished off his race from the rear of the field. Not knocked about in any way, the son of Manduro showed the first signs that he might be capable of making a breakthrough at some stage and with virtually every horse ahead of him that day all going onto much better things next time out, it would come as little surprise if this lightly-raced type follows suit back at the scene of that promising effort.

The latter may have looked to take a backward step to many at Tipperary last time out following a promising enough comeback run at Gowran the time before, but there were mitigating circumstances at the Limerick Junction track to suggest all is not quite lost with Martin Hassett’s filly.

Held up towards the rear in what turned out to be a strongly-run handicap 12 days ago, the Excelebration filly was coming with what looked a promising effort two furlongs from home, but unfortunately her challenge came to an abrupt halt as she ran in to a bit of a cul-de-sac with several horses dropping back into her lap. Once out in the clear, she came home well enough to suggest she may have picked up a piece of the action had she managed to obtain a smoother passage and with cheekpieces on for the first time today and the booking of Wayne Lordan both seen as massive positives, she looks poised to outrun her morning odds.