Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

CLOUDBRIDGE (NAP) (best price 6-4) created a favourable impression both visually and on the clock when scoring in tidy fashion on debut at Leicester and he looks very much the one to beat based on all the evidence assembled for this Group 3 prize.

A little outpaced as the experience Clarendon Cross ensured the pace was honest from the start, Charlie Appleby’s colt soon loomed up looking a big threat at the two-furlong pole and from that juncture he really engaged overdrive to ultimately win going away. Form-wise, the race has already been given an instant hit with the third horse home, River Alwen, scoring emphatically at Haydock next time and with the distinct likelihood of further improvement to come, it would be disappointing if the son of Hard Spun couldn’t take the step up in class in his stride. 

DALTON HIGHWAY (best price 8-1) was ultimately a bitter disappointment to his legion of supporters at the Galway Festival last time out, but given how the race panned out, he had little chance of backing up his previous success at the Curragh and he’s afforded another chance to prove he’s a stayer with plenty of class.

Having his first run for 183 days at the Co Kildare venue, Dermot Weld’s inmate exhibited a rare turn of foot in the closing stages to leave his 17 opponents for dead and with the form of those in behind him that day working well subsequently, it was easy to see why he was such a strong fancy to repeat the dose at Ballybrit. Unfortunately for his purposes, they went absolutely no gallop in the big amateur riders race on day-one of the festival and having been dropped out the back by Jamie Codd, he never at any stages had the remotest chance of putting his stamp on the contest. A previous winner over today’s course and runner-up in this very race twelve months ago, the son of Zoffany will hopefully erase the memories of his latest performance well behind and get back on track under ideal conditions.

ROBERTO ESCOBAR (best price 11-2) may have only won a minor contest in relation to today’s test here last time out but he left the distinct impression he’s ready for a step up into the big league and he’s strongly fancied to justify that belief on his return visit to the Knavesmire.

A huge eye-catcher on debut at Haydock back in June when getting no run whatsoever down the home straight, William Haggas’ colt was well-fancied to make amends at the Yorkshire venue a month later and in a race that contained several similarly progressive types, he easily came out on top. Pushed along at the pace increased three out, the son of Galileo was extremely strong when it mattered most and on the evidence of that display 31 days ago, he should be well-suited by the step up in trip. Moreover, his vital track experience should also stand him in good stead and with the dead eight runner set to go to post, he rates the percentage each-way call of the octet.

Lugnaquilla went into plenty of notebooks with her debut effort at Leopardstown on debut and she looks sure to make a huge step forward, but at the same time, she hasn’t been missed in the market whereas TASHI (best price 12-1) has been totally dismissed for all the wrong reasons and she can prove that her morning quotes are all out of whack.

A promising runner-up to the smart Tasalka at Naas two starts ago, Sheila Lavery’s filly was fancied to go well again on her return to the Dublin venue a month later, but unfortunately for her, a wide draw meant she wasn’t able to do herself full justice and she ended up not quite running up to scratch. Being forced to race wide and give away a huge amount of ground for the entire journey, her effort is best forgotten, but now housed more favourably to exploit a ground-saving journey around the inside, the daughter of Kingston Hill should have more energy left in her legs this time for the final climb to the line. 

A race where quite a few bring solid recent form to the table, none more so than JUST HUBERT (best price 12-1) who landed the big staying handicap at the Goodwood festival with some aplomb and he looks to be overpriced based on that effort. 

Sent off an unconsidered outsider at the Sussex track despite running well in races such as the Northumberland Plate earlier in the season, William Muir’s gelding certainly had enough back class and qualities to figure on the pick of his form and so it proved, as he came with a sweeping run down the centre of the track to get up close home. Clearly that extreme test suited the son of Dunaden well and having run well at this meeting last year when a close-up sixth in the hugely competitive Melrose Handicap behind the classy Hamish, he has more going for him than his morning odds suggest.

Kevin Ryan is always a man to be feared at this meeting, especially with his two-year-olds and in the shape of CAIRN ISLAND (best price 5-1), the Yorkshire handler appears to have another juvenile capable of adding to his list of winners on the Knavesmire. 

In deep on his first two starts up against the likes of pattern-race performers Devious Company and Rhythm Master, the scopey youngster took advantage of a drop in grade with both hands at Ayr last time out by staying on strongly in the closing stages of a well-run affair 22 days ago. The way he travelled before knuckling down to the task at hand inside the final furlong points towards a colt gradually getting the hang of the game with more experience and with his opening handicap mark of 80 seen as a potentially lenient one, a big run looks on the cards.