Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

A typically tricky-to-solve sprint handicap to begin the Ebor festival, but it’s one both WHENTHEDEALINSDONE (best price 9-1) and TWILIGHT CALLS (best price 11-2) should feature based on the speed figures from their Goodwood encounter last time out.

The former has always been held in heathy regard by connections and following a gelding operation and the fitting of cheekpieces, Roger Teal’s charge has really come of age. Drawn the wrong side when a creditable sixth in the big three-year-old sprint handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting, the son of Dark Angel was dropped back to the minimum trip at the Sussex track and that decision turned out to be an inspired one. Tracking the strong pace set towards the nearside fence, he quickened up well to assume command inside the final furlong and given how hard he hit the line, a 6lb rise could end up being on the lenient side. Moreover, the numbers that day strongly suggest the race was one of the best of its kind all season and hailing from a yard hitting a bit of a purple patch at present, particularly with his sprinters, the improving three-year-old is strongly fancied to go well from his potentially favourable middle draw.

The latter turned out to be a bit of a disappointment when a heavily-backed favourite in the same contest 20 days ago, but as the ground may not have been to his entire liking, a certain degree of slack is cut in his direction. Prior to that slightly below-par effort by his standards, Henry Candy’s colt has created a favourable impression with the manner of victory at Newmarket and with him also proving himself against the older horses that day, it’s reasonable to expect a more realistic version of his true worth on ground that will suit.

SIR LUCAN (best price 10-3) just got going a little too late in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time out, but with today’s track threatening to play into his strengths even more, Aidan O’Brien’s colt can enhance his St Leger claims in one of the most recognised trials.

A game winner over stable mate Wordsworth at Navan previously, the son of Camelot was still surprisingly a much bigger price than his old rival at the Sussex venue but, despite his overall underestimation in the market, he went on to confirm the form in chasing home the game winner, Ottoman Empire. However, had the gaps opened at a more opportune moment for him at a crucial stage it may well have been a different story and he looks well worth another chance to prove he’s the most preeminent three-year-old stayer in his yard.

As we know, course form is usually a vital asset here on the Knavesmire and having both already experienced the vagaries of the turf at the Yorkshire venue, BOSH (best price 9-2) and JADHLAAN (best price 8-1) are taken against the field in the concluding nursery.

The former broke his maiden tag at the second time of asking over today’s C&D back in June and his two subsequent performances have strongly suggested he remains on an upward curve. Indeed, his latest effort in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas behind the top-class Sacred Bridge strongly points towards Richard Hannon’s colt being close to pattern company level and off mark of 95, he’s been given the chance to show his days as a handicapper could well be over sooner rather than later.

The latter figured prominently in a similar race to this at Goodwood last month and a repeat performance should see him give another solid account. Staying on well from the back of the field that day, Mark Johnston’s grey couldn’t quite peg back the very smart Ever Given, but he did end up beating the rest fair and square and with the time figure very good, he probably ran close to a personal best. Prior to that commendable effort, the son of Dark Angel had shaped better than the bare result in arguably the best two-year-old contest so far this season at Newmarket’s July meeting and having already proven himself over today’s course with a smooth success three starts ago, there’s a lot to recommend this likeable character.

GUISEPPE CASSIOLI (best price 7-2) arrives here in cracking heart following an impressive victory at Wolverhampton last time out and he rates a decent bet to translate that solid form to a course where he’s gone particularly well in the past.

Down the field on his opening gambit of the season at Sandown, the four-year-old colt proved a much more solid proposition back on an all-weather surface nine days ago and with the time figure from the Dunstall Park heat very good for the grade, he looks one to keep on side for the foreseeable future. Additionally, his three runs at the Sunbury venue have resulted in form figures of 323 and with tonight’s trip also his optimum, the Bated Breath colt looks poised to keep those impressive stats intact.