Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

Boss Power was a massive eye-catcher in an above-average novice event at Doncaster and it’s easy to see why he’s a popular choice with the punters off what could turn out to be an extremely lenient mark, but beyond him, there are a couple at more attractive propositions at their respective morning odds, namely DREAM WITH ME (best price 7-1) and BEALACH (best price 16-1), that should also figure prominently based on what they’ve achieved so far.

The former has shown a fair degree of ability on all three starts and even though he was put in his place when last of three at Leicester, the slow tempo which resulted in a dash to the line didn’t really play into his strengths. Seen to much better effect in his two previous outings when placed behind the likes of smart fillies Au Claire Du Lune and Frankly Darling, today’s likely stronger gallop and long straight will suit and he’s fancied to confirm previous form with Swift Verdict at the very least.

The latter ran on the same card as Dream With Me at the Midland venue 15 days ago and in a much stronger-run affair, he kept on well enough to finish a respectable fourth behind two very well-handicapped three-years in the shape of A Star Above and Au Claire Du Lune. Time-wise the race in question was an above-average contest for the track and grade and a repeat of the same level of form should enable Eve Johnson Houghton’s colt to cast aside his dismissive morning odds. 

WHAT WONDERS WEAVE (best price 7-2) shaped with conspicuous promise at Bellewstown last time out and she’s fancied to strike another blow for in-form handler Shark Hanlon in this similar contest.

Held up in mid-division at the Co Meath venue, the daughter of Famous Name was beginning what looked a very promising challenge three out when she proceeded to make a costly error and although she rallied well to make up some of the lost leeway on the run-in, she just simply ran out of real estate. Altogether a much more position display than her mulish antics on hurdling debut at Roscommon, hopefully the six-year-old mare can continue to keep going in the same direction as her latest effort indicated. 

EN FAMILLE (best price 7-1) has a few doubts overshadowing his prospects here today, namely a potentially tricky draw in stall one and blinkers on for the first time, but strictly on form, there’s no way he should be quoted at his current odds based on the opposition he faces today compared to those he faced in past.

Everywhere you look, Amy Murphy’s gelding has been in choppy waters right from his debut, and his latest effort when third behind two well-treated three-year-olds at Leicester highlighted his overall plight. Giving away vital ground at the start, the son of Farhh ran on well in the home straight to get within four lengths of a pair who are likely to be battling for top honours at Goodwood next week and with the headgear on in order to buck his ideas up in the early stages, he should turn out to be competitive if they have the desired effect. 

OLA BONITA (best price 5-1) had legitimate excuses for a disappointing effort over today’s C&D and she’s afforded another chance to prove her debut performance at Navan was no flash in the pan. 

Sent 33-1 at the Co Meath venue a month ago, Andrew Slattery’s filly outran her position in the market by some way when staying on eye-catchingly from the back of the field to finish a never-nearer fourth behind a horse who has gone on to finish runner-up in a listed race subsequently and with several others out of that well-run affair also boosting the form since, it seemed logical she would be a warm order to go close to breaking her maiden tag here 28 days ago. Having travelled well enough halfway, she proceeded to drop away like a damp squib, shaping as though something way badly amiss, and as it turned out she was found to be in season, thus a logical explanation for her inexplicably poor run was validated. Obviously, if she bombs out again, then the promise of her first effort can by file into the ‘false dawn’ tray, but hopefully that won’t turn out to be the case and she can showcase her talents in race which contains many largely disappointing types.

Millilse got her career back on track with an altogether more convincing display over today’s C&D last time out, but whether she’s good enough to contain other filly FOREVER IN DREAMS (best price 7-4) is open to question and Aidan Fogarthy’s inmate is fancied to take advantage of a huge drop in class.

In need of the run when sixth of 11 on her seasonal reappearance over today’s course a month ago, the four-year-old ran a good deal better next time at the Curragh when making the high-class Speak In Colours pull out all the stops in a competitive Group 2 contest. Much more at home on the easy surface that day, the daughter of Dream Head went some way to replicating the sort of form which saw her finish third in the Group 1 sprint on Champions Day at Ascot back in October and a repeat of either of those two excellent performances will make her extremely hard to beat on ground that is set to change throughout the course of the day due to rain.

Away from the big two in the market, a case can be made for PRONOUNCEMENT (best price 9-1) to outrun her odds and she’s worth a small interest in the ‘without the favourite’ markets.

Following a deserved breakthrough success in a maiden over today’s C&D, Johnny Murtagh’s filly was back in listed company at Cork last time out and although she ended coming out third best, she actually performed better than the bare result suggests. Drawn towards the far side, the daughter of Declaration Of War came out best of those in her small group, only get collared by two who had the luxury of racing on the favoured part of the track over on the nearside fence. Although she has to find a bit on the strict interpretation of that form, the lightly-raced three-year-old offsets that slight negative with a career record over today’s C&D of 431 and with conditions in her favour, a big run is anticipated.