Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Some potentially smart fillies on show for this Group 2 prize, but there’s a fair chance that the two with the least experience, INDIGO GIRL (best price 11-4) and Zabeel Prince end up having the biggest say in the outcome.

John Gosden’s filly was well-touted prior to making her debut at Yarmouth a few weeks ago, so there was naturally plenty of focus on her behaviour and demeanour in the preliminaries considering she was wearing the hood for the first time. Dwelling coming out of the stalls, it actually did Robert Havlin a massive favour as it allowed him to settle the daughter of Dubawi at the rear through the early exchanges and then when he asked her to quicken approaching the two pole, she found a tremendous turn of foot to put the race to bed in a matter of strides. Running the last three furlongs at the seaside track in 33.5, she easily posted the best sectionals on the seven-race card and with the overall time figure not too shabby either, it’s clear we are dealing with a two-year-old of some substance. Obviously, with a filly who could potentially be a bit tricky, the unknown is whether she will be in the same frame of mind second time around, but with no better jockey on board than Frankie Dettori to steady the ship, hopefully she will go down quiet as a lamb and come back like a roaring lion, as she did 11 days ago. 

UNCLE JUMBO (best price 5-1) ran as well as could be expected from a terrible draw in a similar contest at York last time out, so he’s afforded another chance to make amends housed more favourable this afternoon.

A game winner from the talented Significantly over today’s course on debut, Kevin Ryan’s colt was put to one side in order to have a tilt at the big pot on the Knavesmire 21 days ago, and although he finished just outside the frame in fourth, he ran a good deal better than the bare result. In trying to hold his position against those who were racing on the favourable part of the track on the far side, he used up quite a bit of petrol in the process, so it was to his eternal credit he managed to keep on as well as he did to only go under by three lengths to subsequent pattern winner, Happy Romance. Although he has shown bright pace in both his two starts, hopefully the son of Territories is given a bit more of a chance over today extra half-a-furlong and if so, he has the ability to make an impact.

JUMAIRA BAY (NAP) (best price 7-2) finally got his due rewards for a series of near misses earlier in the campaign and if everything goes smoothly for him during today’s contest, it would come as no surprise to see this talented three-year-old notch up another success. 

Unlucky to bump into the well-handicapped Nugget on his seasonal reappearance over the mile here back in June, Roger Varian’s colt left the impression he was a bit unfortunate not to capture a competitive handicap dropped back down a furlong on his return to Town Moor next time, as he ended up challenging on the wrong side of the track. Nailed in the dying strides at York next time out, the horse who beat him that day, Brunch, went on to land an ultra-competitive handicap back at the same venue a month later and with the form of that contest in July working out so well, it was no surprise to see him land the odds himself at Chepstow when last seen. A strong traveller through his races, cheekpieces have been fitted probably in order to focus his mind when making his final challenge and with today’s course suitable for his come-from-the-rear run style, the son of Siyouni looks certain to play a prominent role. 

Baron Samedi is bound to be a popular choice among punters after his demolition job at Down Royal last week and while fully excepting he is very much the one to beat if running to a similar level, LORD PARK (best price 11-1) is one likely to give him most to think about. Back him in the without favourite market too. 

A slow burner this season, Michael Halford’s gelding first sprung to prominence when third to the improving Sonnyboyliston on his first handicap start at the Curragh back in July and considering the runner-up that day, Thundering Nights, has gone on to claim Group race glory back at the same track since, it’s clear he ran to a fair level at the Co Kildare venue. Strongly fancied to press home his apparent lenient handicap mark off the back of that run, the son of Tamayuz unfortunately failed to deliver the goods in a slightly weaker event at Naas, but as it turned out, the race in question was slowly run and he just got caught out by means of a poor track position. Again running well in a big-field, strongly-run affair back at the same track last time, the soft ground that day wouldn’t have done him too many favours (withdrawn twice due to testing conditions this season), but with today’s drying conditions sure to aid his cause, the progressive three-year-old looks sure to go well off a rating of just 76.