Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

There’s no denying Hukum sets a pretty decent standard for his rivals to try and match, but if there’s one who can meet the requirements needed, GOLDEN PASS (best price 7-1) may just turn out to be equal to the task.

Only out of the first three once in seven starts, Hugo Palmer’s filly has really come of age this season and following here first attempt at listed level which saw her push the useful Katara all the way at Pontefract, she duly got her day in the sun in a similar contest at Newmarket last time out. Always to the fore at HQ, the daughter of Golden Horn stayed on strongly when joined by the smooth-travelling Free Wind at the two-furlong marker and in the end, she was full value for her three-quarters-of-a-length success. Whether she will adopt similar tactics against the boys here today remains to be seen, but either way, this strong stayer at the trip is likely to leave everything out there on the track on ground that will suit (withdrawn from an engagement at Goodwood due to soft ground).

GREAT AMBASSADOR (NAP) (best price 9-4) impressed with the way he travelled into the business end of the Stewards Cup at Goodwood last time out and on the evidence of that display, Ed Walker’s gelding looks poised to prove he’s days as a handicapper might be over sooner rather than later.

Following his smooth success in a fast time figure on the all-weather at Kempton on his first run of the season, the scopey chestnut was saved especially for a tilt at one of the big sprint handicaps of the campaign and once Ascot became off limits due to the heavy rain, it was on to the slopes of the Sussex venue in his bid to land the pot. Draw over on the far side, the son of Exceed And Excel simply ran out of opponents to carry into the thick of the action towards the stands side rail and in the end, he had to row his own boat for the best part of two furlongs. Despite winning his side of the draw easily, he ended up having to settle for third, but to come out of that top quality event only 1lb higher in the ratings considering how well he fared has to be seen as the touch of all time by his connections. Having already proven he can handle the undulations of the Rowley course, hopefully he will be equally at home over today’s similar track and with the ground also a good deal quicker than what he encountered last time out, the progressive four-year-old can get back to winning ways.

As is likely to be the case for both the two big sprints races over today’s six-furlong course, the pace will determine the outcome rather than any huge draw bias (has been hardly anything between the two sides in recent times), so with plenty of strong front runners housed over on the far side rail, there’s a fair chance things might just set up nicely again for FORTAMOUR (best price 8-1).

Tried in cheekpieces and a visor to no avail on his first five outings this season, the headgear was dispensed with on his latest outing over today’s C&D two weeks ago and as it transpired, that decision worked wonder as Ben Haslam’s gelding came through strong in the latter stages to win going away. Clearly at home over today’s course on the evidence of that display and on his two previous visits to the Yorkshire track, the son of Es Que Love should get a nice tow in behind plenty of pace over on his side of the draw and because the field is likely to split into two groups, it should mean there’s ample space for him to work with in the latter stages where he’s usually seen at his strongest.

SHETLAND BUS (best price 10-3) maintained his fine run of form through the summer period with his second win in as many months at Cartmel last time out and another positive show looks on the cards from this sweet-travelling eight-year-old.

Despite hitting the front too soon and idling after jumping the last on his previous visit to the Cumbrian venue, Justin Landy’s gelding proved his liking for a sharp track and that was backed up with an even smoother success in a better race a month later. Always going easily, it was just a question of when the eight-year-old was unleashed with his run and this time, regular pilot waited until on the run-in to pounce. Showing a smart turn of foot to seal the deal in a slowly run race that day (ran the last circuit 3.6 seconds quicker than the very smart Alqamar), the son of Sholokhov has also been seen to good effect when involved in plenty of well-run races, so as far as today is concerned, it doesn’t really matter how the race pans out as he has all the requisite answers tucked away in his locker.