Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

EILEAN DUBH’S (best price 7/2) latest effort can be best forgotten on account of a bad draw over an unsuitable trip, but now returning to the scene of his previously impressive C&D victory, Karl Burke’s colt is expected to rebound back in the right direction.

Super impressive both visually and on the clock over a mile here back in May, it was a little strange to say the least why connections saw fit to drop him a full two furlongs at Pontefract last time out and, from the worst of the draw (17 of 17), he ran accordingly. Looking back to his previous success, the form has been boosted subsequently by the likes of Lion Tower and On A Session, and in what looks likely to be a reasonably well-run race courtesy of Challet being in the line-up, the son of Vadamos should be seen to good effect at the business end.

JIMI HENDRIX (NAP) (best price 3/1) ran an extraordinary race in the Britannia handicap at Royal Ascot and It would only take a performance of a similar standard for him to be vying for top honours here this afternoon.

Having being held up towards the rear before coming through strongly to land his previous race at haydock, it was rather surprisingly to see ralph Beckett’s inmate towards the head of affairs at the Berkshire venue 23 days ago, but unlike many who tried and failed to lead it out from the front over the demands of the straight track, this fella managed to keep rocking and rolling all the way to the line. Only succumbing to the fast-finishing pair Thesis and Saga inside the final 100yds, he ended up being carried out on his shield in a very respectable third and, when you consider the quality of opponents he had in behind him that day, his performance deserves extra praise.

Moreover, his time figure - unsurprisingly given the gallop he went – came out really well, and with today’s track offering more support to those who like to race up with the speed (presuming similar tactics are adopted), the son of New Bay should prove a tough nut to crack.

A typically wide-open sprint synonymous with the track and for very differing reasons both LOVELY MANA (best price 10/1) and COURT D’ORSAY (best price 25/1) go on the shortlist of potential winners.

The former has rather more obvious claims arriving here in the form of her life following back-to-back wins at Newcastle and Sandown and it’s the latest of those two victories which showcases her current wellbeing. Always travelling well at the Esher track, George Boughey’s filly quickened to lead inside the final furlong and from that point she careered right away from her rivals to score by an impressive two lengths. Slightly quicker than the Group 3 winner over the same C&D Raasel, she clearly ran to a level a good deal better than her rating at the time, so even though the assessor has tried to act accordingly, she may have enough left in the locker to defy the hike.

The latter could arguably do with the ground on the easier side, but taking into account his latest unlucky effort at Newcastle and his price this morning, he’s still worth risking. Slowly working himself back into form prior to arriving at the Northumberland venue, Tim Easterby’s gelding travelled really strongly throughout a competitive renewal of the Gosforth Park Cup, and if it wasn’t for getting virtually stopped in his run on several occasion inside the final furlong of what turned out to be an extremely strongly-run affair, there’s little doubt he would have had a say in the final outcome. Whether he can translate that sort of all-weather form back to turf is the burning question, but either way, the son of Dandy Man looks poised to strike sooner rather than later.

Godolphin have fared pretty well in these big Group 1 sprints in recent times and both NAVAL CROWN (best price 11/2) and CREATIVE FORCE (best price 11/2) appear to have particularly strong claims on their 1-2 in the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

The former just came out on top of a tremendous battle at the Berkshire venue and when you consider he had to row his own boat away from the main action towards the middle of the track, his performance should in no way be underestimated. Finishing miles clear of all those drawn high that day, his effort probably deserves more credit than it received on the day and now having seemingly established himself as a pure six-furlong sprinter through-and-through after many runs over further, Charlie Appleby’s gelding can prove there was no fluke about his 33-1 shock success 21 days ago.

Although it’s quite right to hail the praises of his stable mate that day, the son of Dubawi also deserves quite a few plaudits in the way he ran in that tremendously-competitive Group 1 affair. Unlike Naval Crown, the four-year-old chestnut had to come from a long way behind at halfway to have a say in the eventual outcome and having beaten all those drawn around him fair and square, his performance needs upgrading. A little unlucky in this race last season, he had endured a far-less arduous campaign this time around and from a nice, kind middle draw, it would be a surprise if he didn’t improve upon his fifth-place finish from twelve months ago.

SPIRIT OF THE BAY (best price 9/1) could never quite land a meaningful blow at the main players in the Kensington Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot, but least it was another shred of evidence to suggest she goes particularly well at today’s Berkshire venue and this consistent filly looks booked to go well again at rewarding odds.

A poor draw and slow start meant Clive Cox’s filly had only a few behind her as she turned for home 24 days ago, but finishing off her race to good effect, she managed to salvage a good deal of honour from the unpromising situation by staying on strongly to finish a never-nearer fifth. Interestingly, her closing final three-furlong sectional of 37.6 come out better than Random Harvest and Isola Rossa, who she reopposes here today, and having already proven that she’s just as adept over the straight mile with a fine second here the time before, the daughter of Cable Bay rates the percentage each-way call of those towards the front end of the market.

ROUSAY (best price 4/1) found life in the fast zone of a Class 2 affair here last time a little tough hot to handle, but now back down two grades and over a track that clearly suits, Richard Hannon’s filly can finally come into her own.

Not quite good enough for listed level as a two-year-old, the daughter of Muhaarar has managed to produce three sterling efforts so far this term and the form of her last two races in particular read well in the context of today’s affair. Her Goodwood effort two starts ago has been boosted by the winner at Royal Ascot and by the fifth since, and the time figure she produced in defeat here 17 days ago goes down as a career high despite suffering a four-length loss. Untried over today’s trip, there is encouragement to be drawn from her pedigree and her run style that she will get tonight’s extra two furlongs and at the morning odds, she’s worth a small interest to find out whether that turns out to be the case.