Today's Racing Tips from Andy Holding

OOH LA BELLE (best price 9-2) shaped with a conspicuous amount of promise on her debut at Listowel last week and even though she potentially faces several well-regarded sorts on her second start, she’s fancied to put her all-important experience to good use.

Being slow away at the Co Kerry venue usually means your toast with regards winning, and that’s exactly what happened to Willie McCreery’s filly on her opening gambit. She did, however, finish off her race with enough gusto which marked her down as a horse to keep on side for next time and with a better break from the gates from her inside draw, the daughter of James Garfield is highly likely to be involved in the final outcome.

OUTGATE (best price 7-2) never really recovered from a slow start in the ultra-competitive Silver Bowl at Haydock last time out, but his effort still deserves the utmost praise, and a repeat of something similar back over a C&D where he ran out quite an impressive winner the time before should see the son of Outstrip right in the mix from his low draw.

A good winner on the Roodee at the May meeting, Danial & Clare Kubler’s grey was fancied to go well in a much classier environment at the Merseyside venue later in the month and although did manage to snatch a podium finish, he would have been a good deal better off if he’d hit the lids on terms. Given the overall standard of the race 21 days ago and the speed figure it produced, his performance levels by no means diminished and providing he breaks sharper from his low draw and gets himself into a decent early position, it’s hard to see him not having a huge say in the eventual outcome.

SISTERANDBROTHER (best price 3-1) ruined any opportunity of following up his previous course win by pulling too hard, but considering he still managed to run so well despite expending so much energy, he’s afforded another chance to return to winning ways.

Keen on his first success here after a 242-day break, Milton Harris’ gelding was fitted with a hood in a bid to check his natural exuberance next time, but because of the small field and lack of early pace, unfortunately the new headgear didn’t have the desired effect connections would have wished for. However, to his great credit he did manage to run a respectable race in face of adversity and with today’s bigger field and likely stronger pace set to suit, the son of Sixties Icon makes plenty of appeal in his bid to provide his in-form handler with another winner on the Flat.

HARSWELL DUKE (best price 6-1) and GARDEN OASIS (best price 6-1) may have only been on the fringes of the action over today’s C&D last time out, but with the overall speed figure of what turned

out to be an extremely competitive handicap working out very good for the grade, the pair are worth playing against the field in this much weaker contest on their return visit.

The former has just one win to his name in nine starts, but based on his last two performances his turn on the top of podium is imminent. Third to the rapidly-improving Eilean Dubh, Roger Fell’s gelding once again saw the backside of his old rival on the Knavesmire 20 days ago, but as the time figure of the race revealed, he ran a career high despite only finishing sixth. As history often dictates as this course, having previously run over the track is a vital ingredient and with the son of Garswood one of only handful to have encountered a strongly-run affair here in recent times, he can carry forward that all-important knowledge into today’s contest.

The latter has plenty of experience of racing here in the past, and even though his overall record is a bit patchy to say the least, he did manage to win a race of this nature during the summer of last year. Although never a factor 20 days ago, Tim Easterby’s inmate was noted not getting the clearest of runs in the later stages and now back down in Class 4 company for the first time in ages, he should go some way to bettering his three form figures so far this term.

MOEL ARTHUR (NAP) (best price 3-1) wasn’t the first horse to come out of scrap on the wrong side of the argument with Way Of Life in recent times and despite the assessor taking a dim view of that performance at Newbury a month ago, he still rates a strong choice to add to his previous success at Lingfield.

Having his first run on turf following a 97-day break, Brett Johnson’s gelding impressed with the way he travelled up against a very hot pace and although he ultimately had to play second fiddle to the improving winner, he did manage to pull well clear of the rest. Of those vanquished at the Berkshire venue, the likes of Time Interval, Charlie Arthur and Pride Of Nepal (tice) have all boosted the form with victory since and with his speed figure head and shoulders above anything else in today’s line-up, a repeat of something similar should suffice.