Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CLITHEROE (best price 11/2) was unable to land a significant blow at the two main players at Musselburgh last time on account of a troubled passage, but with today’s venue likely to allow for a far-less congested route to the line, David Simcock’s filly can prove she’s very much up to this level.

Draw out on the wing at the Scottish track, the daughter of Ribchester had no choice but to be dropped out early in order to give her the best possible chance of recovering, and although that policy worked to a certain degree, she did end up being hostage to fortune down the straight.

Stopped several times when endeavouring to gather up a head of steam, she flashed passed the line leaving the impression she was easily the best filly in the race and with the numbers from that contest 17 days ago suggesting it was a fair race of its kind, her performance probably deserves upgrading even further.

Having sat on her for the first time that day, Joe Fanning will know more what to expect this time around and with today’s pace likely to be a fairly heathy one right from the start, a well-timed challenge should see this scopey filly right in the thick of the action late on.

GAELIK COAST (NAP) (best price 5/1) may have only beaten one horse home at Kelso last time out, but a look at the speed figures and final lap sectionals of that race suggests Donald McCain ran a good deal better than at first feared and with the assessor dropping him sufficiently enough in order for him to run back in Class 3 company, he’s fancied to take advantage.

Probably better known for his exploits over fences in recent times, the eight-year-old was slipped back over hurdles at the Borders venue just to test the water and although he failed to cut too much ice, at the same his performance wasn’t without promise.

Keeping on well from the last, he lost no further ground on the main players and considering the trip was short of his best, connections are entitled to give him another spin over the smaller obstacles. Moreover, this appears a far easier assignment to the one he faced 24 days ago and with the tongue-tie on for the first time, the son of Coastal Path has a better chance than the market affords him.

HASHTAGMETOO (best price 13/2) has a bit of an affinity for today’s track, as form figures of 143133 suggest. Jamie Osbourne’s mare has recorded both of her victories here on genuinely firm ground, so a continuation of the dry theme should see her outrun her generous-looking morning odds.

Blinker for the first time when successful at the Wiltshire venue this time last year, the five-year-old mare wen to onto run a series of fine races in victory and defeat and her second win over today’s C&D three months later also proved she stayed the trip well.

A fine third on her seasonal bow on her return visit a month ago, the daughter of Declaration of War ran right up to her best form despite just getting touched off at Chepstow last time, but with the numbers from that small-field Chepstow heat pretty smart for the grade, there’s plenty of proof to suggest she’s just beginning to come to the boil.

LUCKY QUEEN (best price 9/2) only has a rating of 61, but she shaped like she could be a good better than that assessment at Cork last time out and she’s fancied to back up that view over a trip that should play into her strengths.

Mildly promising on a couple of starts for James Barrett last season, the daughter of Aclaim was having her first start for 215 days since switching to her new surroundings and on the evidence of what he showed at the Mallow venue, current connections must have been delighted with the outcome.

Outpaced and towards the rear at the halfway stage 14 days ago, she picked up nicely from that point onwards and by the time she’d hit the line, she was gaining on the main players’ hand over fist. Based on what transpired in that five-furlong maiden, she’s at least as good as the 78-rated De Velara, so even though connections have decided not to exploit her potential lenient handicap mark just yet, she still makes more appeal than her morning odds suggest.

A classic conundrum for punters with several from the established category clashing against a few unexposed sorts, and of those in the latter bracket, ONE FOR BOBBY (best price 9/4) and TERM OF ENDEARMENT (best price 15/2) are worth a decent amount of consideration.

The former has really impressed in the manner of her two victories so far to date and with her ability to travel and quicken two of her main features, hopefully she can translate those qualities now upped significantly in class. Coming from a long way back to score on debut at Gowran, Johnny Murtagh’s filly repeated the dose on return to the Co Kenny venue three weeks later and with the runner-up, Show Of Stars, a fair guide to the level of form she accomplished, she is by no means out of place in tonight’s field.

The latter also has a taking victory at Gowran to her name courtesy of her most recent effort 16 days ago and with that breakthrough success coming via a smart time figure, Henry De Bromhead’s filly is worth a small punt she can take a huge step forward.

Promising on her debut for James Motherway on her only start at two, the daughter of Sea The Moon was picked up by new connections with a view to make into a useful middle-distance filly and of what we witnessed at the Co Kenny track earlier in the month, she looks a decent bit of business.

Staying on strongly late on, she hit the line hard to easily post the strongest numbers on the eight-race card and with her astute handler having no second thoughts regarding stepping her up in class, she could turn out to be the joker in the pack.