Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

WALLEM (NAP) (best price 10-3) could never gather up a proper head of steam at Sandown last time out but at the same time, connections must have been delighted with his return to action and that effort should set him up nicely for a tilt at today’s prize – which has been the target for some time.

Promising in two heavy ground maidens towards the backend of last season, Andrew Balding’s gelding wasted no time in getting off the mark, winning his next start on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and he was subsequently put away with a view to attacking some useful middle-distance handicaps. Beginning in a hot contest at Newmarket back in April, the son of Sea The Moon had the misfortune to bump into the now 112-rated Mohaafeth, but it was still an encouraging effort all the same considering he by means had the clearest of passages along the way. Gelded in the interim, the lightly-raced three-year-old returned to the fray following a 154-day break and although he failed in his bid to justify heavy support, it might well have been a different story had he received anything like a clear run. Sure to be all the better for that outing both mentally and physically, he looks primed to run a big race against a largely exposed bunch of older horses who wouldn’t have anything like his potential.

FICTITIOUS LADY (best price 4-1) did remarkably well to win here last time out having totally missed the break and although that slight tendency to dwell in the stalls has worryingly crept into her game in recent times, she may have enough ability to overcome that impost.

A frustrating 13-race maiden heading into her latest assignment a month ago, a wide draw was exacerbated even further when she gave away a good deal of ground at the start, but in what turned out to be a miraculous final three-furlong surge down the middle of the track, she came from the unlikeliest of positions to get up in the nick of time. Amazingly dropped by the assessor despite that herculean effort, connections had cited the possibility of going for some black type in the post-race chat, so the fact she comes here to contest another run-of-the-mill mares’ and fillies’ affair and put the pattern race tilts on hold for the time being, has to be seen as a plus. Moreover, she seemed to really appreciate been in behind horses and picking them off one-by-one 36 days ago and with today’s smaller field meaning she won’t have to do as much work as she did last time, another C&D win could well be heading her way.

KOEMAN (best price 11-2) took advantage of a tumbling mark when recording a very easy victory at Hamilton last time out and based on his time figure and general dominance at the Scottish venue, it makes perfect sense to keep Mick Channon’s gelding on side back at a track where he has gone particularly well in the past.

Last in the winner’s enclosure back in December 2020, the son of Dutch Art had dropped 17lb in the ratings in the interim and, as a result, it meant he was slipping into Class 4 company for only the second time in three years. Soft ground was also a slight concern, but in what turned out to be a well-run for the grade, he dispelled any negativity pre-race to run out an authoritative five-length winner, pulling right away in the closing stages. Leaving the distinct impression he had plenty left in the tank as he hit the line nine days ago, the six-year-old now heads back to the Sunbury venue a full 12lb lower than when he finished a close-up fourth behind subsequent Royal Ascot winner, Amtiyaz, back in January and with the likelihood of tonight’s race also being run at a decent gallop courtesy of Big Kitten being in the line-up, Koeman’s stamina will hopefully come into play at the business end.