Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

STAR OF LADY M (NAP) (best price 11-8) has not only taken some decent scalps in her two victories so far to date, she’s done so by posting some very smart speed figures for a two-year-old and with today’s track often rewarding horses with a lot of natural pace, it makes sense to stay loyal to David O’Meara’s filly from her favourable draw. 

Well-touted prior to making her debut at Redcar last month, she did face a formidable-looking opponent on paper in the shape of Brocklesby runner-up Primrose Ridge, but having travelled best throughout, she stayed on stronger than her better-fancied rival to gain the day in the closing stages. Having proven she handled plenty of give underfoot at the Yorkshire venue, it was no surprise to see her a very short price favourite under similar conditions next time out at Ripon and this time she proved too good for a pair of colts who were refugees from the opening two-year-old race of the season at Doncaster. Nicely berthed close to the rail here today, the daughter of Havana Grey should have plenty of options with a clean break and based on her numbers compared to the rest, it would be a surprise if she doesn’t complete the hat trick. 

NAVELLO (best price 11-2) was a bit disappointing on his return to turf at Thirsk last time out but, as that was fairly predictable given his draw and underfoot conditions, he rates a much more viable proposition back on a better surface around a track where he’s already enjoyed a fair bit of success. 

A very sharp two-year-old, George Boughey’s gelding completed an early-season hat trick when landing the Lili Agnes Stakes at this corresponding meeting last year and that victory was followed by an excellent effort behind the very smart Ebro River in the National Stakes at Sandown. Although he’s only managed to win once in the interim period, the son of Ivawood has run some notable races in defeat and it’s worth pointing out that his best effort according to the clock came when he chased home Flaming Rib back over today’s course in September. Clearly well suited by a sharp left-handed track (his other victory came at Wolverhampton), the form of his stable and booking of the irrepressible William Buick make the three-year-old stand out at the morning odds. 

THE MACON LUGNATIC (best price 2-1) represents a yard going great guns ever since their success at the Cheltenham Festival at Ben Pauling’s gelding looks poised to provide his Naunton handler more cheer in a race not exactly brimming with in-form opponents. 

A winner at Ffos Las this time last season, the son of Shirocco hasn’t managed to add to his tally since, but there have been really positive signs of late that he is ready to strike again and a repeat of something close to the level he has shown on either of his last two starts should be good enough. Runner-up to the game Sultans Pride at Doncaster in February, the eight-year-old was tried in the first-time blinkers when returning from a 65-day break in a much better race at Haydock last time out and although he couldn’t quite get to grips with several improving sorts, the way he performed and, in particular, finished off his race from the last hurdle, strongly suggest he run close to a career-high. Having run so well in a competitive and strongly run Class event, it would be deemed disappointing if he couldn’t take care of business at this lower level. 

GRADULATIONS (best price 12-1) is the most exposed runner in today’s field with three runs, but as easily her best effort came over the C&D under similar conditions last time out, there’s more than a fair chance she can use that knowledge to good advantage and therefore run much better than her morning odds suggest.

Only mildly promising in both starts as a two-year-old, Andy Oliver’s filly was given plenty of time to grow into her frame during the winter period and based on her effort here after a 229-day break, the patience afforded her seems to have been rewarded. Drawn widest of all at the Co Kenny venue – a position where most horses find hard to overcome – she managed to be the only one in the 16-strong field to offer any sort of resistance to the all-the-way winner Lyrical Poetry (Group 1 entered) and with the time figure intimating it was a fair race of its kind, the daughter of Mukhadram clearly ran to a decent standard. Much better drawn today in stall two, a good break should see her not only be a better position to save energy but actually potentially dominate and with those tactics often a bearer of fruit at this pace-favouring track, the three-year-old is likely to be a bigger player than many expect.