Today's Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BASHFUL BOY (best price 7-2) doesn’t have the sexy profiles of some of his main rivals, but he does bring solid top-class handicap form to the party and a repeat of either of his last two runs should see him acquit himself with distinction.

Although still winless since joining new connections, his effort when forcing the smart Auncunrisque to pull out all the stops at Plumpton two starts ago suggested it wouldn’t be too long before he was better rewarded for endeavours and his latest encounter in the Swinton Hurdle was also not without promise. Outpaced as the field turned for home at the Merseyside venue, the son of Magician was noted doing some good late work after the last and on the evidence of that display, today’s extra yardage should come in handy. Likely to be suited by today’s smaller field, the six-year-old has a better chance than his early morning odds imply.

PYLEDRIVER (NAP) (best price 2-1) ran out a game winner of this race last year and, with a preparation that strongly suggests he’s had his entire season geared around a repeat bid, the likeable campaigner is fancied to retain his crown.

Often seriously underestimated in the market, William Muir & Chris Grassick’s gelding was allowed to go off at 8-1 twelve months ago despite having top-class Group 1 form in the bag and he proved that he has many facets to his game, most notably a strong will not to lie down. Although things haven’t quite panned out for him as connections would have liked over the winter, his latest effort in the Shema Classic was a better effort than his finishing position suggested and with today’s field arguably not the strongest gathering ever for a Group 1, the reliable son of Harbour Watch can reward his loyal owners with another big payday.

Given that Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden have monopolised this Classic in the last decade. It would seem folly to try and find one away from their respective yards, but as Ralph Beckett has been the only trainer in that period of time to upset the applecart, it wouldn’t be a complete mythical if his MOON DE VEGA (best price 33-1) were to get herself among the main players.

Lightly-raced at two, she rounded off her campaign with a game victory in a maiden at Doncaster and it was from that point onwards when connections decided to dream big. Sent to Chester to see whether they had a genuine Classic contender, the daughter of Lope De Vega never had a chance to show her true worth due to serious traffic issues, but at the same time, she showed more than enough to suggest today’s assignment is totally a pie-in-the-sky attempt. Bred to get the trip and from a yard who has been renown for pulling off big shocks before, she’s worth a small each-way interest at 33-1 to see whether she can pull off another giant-killing act.

PRIDE OF NEPAL (best price 14-1) was only on the fringes of the action at Newbury last time out, but as the race at the Berkshire venue was an extremely good one for the grade according to the speed figures, he probably has a better chance of being competitive in today’s much weaker race on paper than his odds suggest.

Having his first outing for 129 days and still searching for his first career win, it was easy to see why Jeremy Scott’s gelding was sent off 25-1 21 days ago, but despite all the negativity, he ran a race full of promise. In what turned out to be an extremely strongly run race, the son of The Gurkha kept on quite well from the back of the field to finish a respectable seventh and light of what several close by him that day have gone on to achieve subsequently, his performance reads well in the context of tonight’s assignment. Whether the first-time tongue-tie today makes a different only time will tell, but either way, his performance levels of his last run are better than most and at his double-figure quotes, a reasonable round of drinks is suggested in his direction.

ORBAAN (best price 8-1) ran into more pockets than my handkerchief at York last time out and while it could be dangerous to believe one swallow automatically makes a summer; David O’Meara’s inmate deserves more than a second glance all the same.

Granted, the seven-year-old is on a losing run of 20, but he would have surely gone close to landing an extremely competitive York handicap with anything like a clear run last time out and it’s that performance which sparks an interest in his chances here today. A winner off a rating of 100 only two years ago, he’s now slipped down to a dangerous mark and on the evidence of what we saw of him on the Knavesmire, he still has plenty to offer despite playing the back-nine of his career.

STUNT GAME (best price 2-1) shaped with a huge amount of promise in an above-average affair on his debut at Catterick and providing he can build on that initial effort, he’s likely to give backers of the favourite, Redemption Time, an uncomfortable minute’s watch.

As is often the case with a debutante draw out wide, the son of Dandy Man ducked out to his right as the gates flew open and, as a result, he found himself on the back foot from an early stage. Making up the ground lost in the latter part of the race, he came home to really good effect to finish a creditable runner-up to the well-fancied winner (likely Royal Ascot bound) and with the speed figure strongly hinting it was a very useful race of its type, even a repeat of that same level of form is going to make him extremely competitive here tonight.