Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

It’s probably fair to say this year’s renewal of the Chester Cup isn’t the strongest and it’s a race well within the capabilities of both SOLENT GATEWAY (best price 4-1) and THE GRAND VISIR (best price 20-1). 
The former has all the hallmarks of a horse completely laid out for this prize having run so well on the Roodee numerous times before, and his new incumbent at Manor House stables – who has already hit the ground running at this meeting – will be desperate to make an impact in all the big races here this season. A dual winner last season, the son of Awtaad’s best performance undeniably came when he sauntered to victory on his penultimate start of the campaign and you’d think the way he won that day, how on earth he’d managed to be competitive over much shorter distances he attempted previously. Using the 1m4f Great Metropolitan as a sharpener for today’s prize at Epsom last month, the four-year-old may have even won had he not suffered interference at a crucial stage and providing he doesn’t run into too many traffic problems for the second time in succession, the unexposed stayer look sure to be a feature for local connections. 

The latter has seemingly been overlooked judged on the morning odds which is a bit of surprise considering he finished runner-up in this race last season and caught the eye with his comeback effort at Wolverhampton recently. 

Off the track for 153 days prior to shipped up at the Midland venue, Ian Williams’ gelding fared a good deal better than the bare result suggested and it was a performance that must have delighted connections despite going a little under the radar to most observers. A strong stayer who was good enough to finish a close-up third in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, today’s test with some dig underfoot should see the eight-year-old show the younger brigade a thing or two. 

FLAMING RIB (best price 13-8), as it turned out, looked badly in need of the run on his seasonal bow in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury last month, but with that all-important run under his belt, Hugo Palmer’s colt can make a better fist of things dropping back down in trip around a track he’s already enjoyed a fair bit of success. 

A very sharp two-year-old, it was rather surprising to see connections try and stretch the son of Ribchester out to seven-furlongs at the Berkshire venue and having raced freely in the early exchanges, he was always going to struggle to see out the trip. That said, he still only got beaten five lengths behind a pair who went on to acquit themselves with distinction in the 2000 Guineas and that effort has to be viewed as a positive one going forward. Back to the scene of his victory here last term, when he absolutely blitzed a small field from the front, a good break from his favourable draw can see him repeat the dose on his return to the Roodee. 

Time may tell SAGA (Best price 13-8) bumped into a smart colt at Kempton last time out and with connections no doubt having one eye on returning to today’s track in June having already score at the Berkshire venue last season, John And Thady Gosden’s grey can prove he’s a good bit better than a handicapper. 

Runner-up on his first two starts as a juvenile to two top-class Godolphin colts, including 2000 Guineas hero, Coroebus, the son of invincible Spirit rounded off his campaign with an all-the-way success over today’s C&D, which is sometimes a task often underestimated at the Berkshire venue. Back after a 227-day break at the Sunbury venue last time, the regally-bred three-year-old was well backed to make a successful start to the new campaign, but despite setting strong fractions that resulted in a huge time figure, he still had to settle for second best. That said, his performance in defeat still suggested he’s a pattern colt in waiting and if he comes through today’s test in flying colours, The Jersey Stakes back here in June has to come into the conversation. 

ATRIUM (best price 11-2) was never a factor in a competitive handicap on his seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh recently, but at the same time, his finishing effort strongly suggested he remains a horse of some interest and now back to a track that is likely to see him in a much better light, Charlie Fellows’ gelding males plenty of appeal at the morning odds. 

A winner over today’s course last July on just his second start as a two-year-old, the son of Holy Roman Emperor added to his tally with another notable success at Newcastle four months later and the significance about those two victories as far as this afternoon’s task is concerned is they both came over stiff tracks. Often a slow starter, such a beginning would normally be a major issue over most tracks, but not where today’s is concerned. Looking at the date for the Berkshire venue, most winners tend to come from way off the pace, so likely to be smuggled away towards the rear early on, expect Kieran Shoemark to deliver his mount with a well-times challenge at the business end. 

ELLIPTIC (best price 9-1) shaped with plenty of promise on her seasonal debut over today’s course last month and with the speed figure and subsequent form of those involved strongly hinting it was a top class affair, Donacha O’Brien’s filly can make her presence felt in the first-time blinkers. 

A smart but lightly-raced juvenile last season good enough to finish sixth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the daughter of Caravaggio has only raced three times since and on each occasion she has finished in the frame in competitive listed contests. On her latest encounter, she caught the eye with the way she finished off her race in a strongly-run six-furlong affair won by Power Over Me and with the one ahead of her that day, Twilight Spinner, going on to land a Group 3 at the Curragh last weekend, it’s clear she ran to a fair level at the Mallow track. Obviously, today’s race looks equally as competitive, especially with the sight of Sacred Bridge in the line-up, but based on her effort 33 days ago, she doesn’t have too much to fear with the rest and for that reason she makes plenty of sense as a solid each-way proposition.