Saturday's Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Little Brown Bear is sure to be all the rage following his success in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last time out, but BADB (best price 6/1) has form at a much higher level courtesy of her second in a Group 2 over today’s C&D last time out and at the morning odds, Donnacha O’Brien’s filly makes far more appeal. 

Off the mark at the third time of asking at Cork, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand was massively underestimated in the market when she stepped up in class here on her latest outing, but it came as no huge surprise to us clock-watchers see her defy her 25-1 SP. Travelling strongly throughout, she looked to have the well-backed Statuette in all sorts of bother until the favourite’s class eventually told, but with pair nicely clear of the rest and the time figure good, she came out of the contest with her head held high. Strangely deserted by stable jockey Gavin Ryan in favour of Yosemite Valley (unlucky on her debut here last month), Badb warrants a little more loyalty than has been afforded to her and she deserves playing accordingly. 

GALATA BRIDGE (best price 11/2) won in the manner of a hurdler on a serious upward curve at Huntingdon last time out and hailing from a stable that captured this prize back in 2015, Dr Newland’s gelding has the sort of profile synonymous with many previous winners of this race. 

Useful on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute, the son of Golden Horn has taken really well to his new vocation based on his first five starts and his latest of his two victories so far to date is by some way his most decisive. Held up with a view to getting him settled better than his previous start at Warwick, the five-year-old cruised into contention rounding the home turn and without being resorted to anything like a forceful ride, he came readily clear to record a convincing success. Clocking a smart time figure in the process, the hefty rise in the ratings was totally justified and with today’s contest likely to be a run at tempo that with really suit this ex-Flat racer, he rates a strong choice to deliver the goods.

MOONEISTA (best price 9/4) was last victorious when she captured this race last season and following arguably a career best effort in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, Jack Davidson’s mare looks primed to repeat the dose back at the Co Kildare track. 

Running well on each of her first three starts of the campaign, she may have well added to her win tally but for a little better luck in running, and she was fancied in many quarters to go well again in her toughest assignment so far to date. Staying on strongly in the latter stages 32 days ago, the daughter of Dandy Man only found three too good in what turned out to be an extremely hot race on the figures and when you consider the horses that she managed to beat that day, other than old rival Equilateral, there’s not too many in today’s field she needs to fear. A filly that enjoys a good pace, the presence of the likes of Geocentric and Last Crusader in the line-up will ensure she will get a tow down towards the business end of the race and if she shows the same turn of foot that she did in this race twelve months ago, she is going to be difficult to beat in defence of her crown. 

MAHLER’S PROMISE (best price 8/1) and STATUARIO (best price 11/1) dominated the trial for this prize over the C&D at the last meeting a month ago and with both sets of connections no doubt taking plenty of positives from each respective performance, the pair rate strong contenders for the main event on their return visits.

The former had been running well prior to arriving at the Lincolnshire venue 29 days ago, so it came as no massive surprise to see Seamus Mullins’ gelding piece it all together. Not for the first time he was seen to good effect in a well-run environment and his ability to jump and travel well are sure to stand him in good stead under conditions he enjoys.

The latter has a little bit to find with his old rival but whichever way you strip it down, he’s looks booked to go well again as his consistent form figures intimate. Indeed, had he not made one or two niggly errors here and there it may well have been a different story, but at least we know he acts at today’s track and stays the trip well. Additionally, he hails from a yard who have enjoyed plenty of success in this race down the years and with stable jockey Sean Bowen deciding to choose the seven-year-old over last year’s hero Francky Du Berlais, he probably needs a good bit more respect than the market affords him.

Quite a bit of Royal Ascot form on show and with one of the main form angles being the Queen Mary a month ago – certainly based on the speed figures -  MIAMI GIRL (best price 7/1) just gets the nod over Maria Branwell at the morning prices. 

Finishing just behind her old rival at the Berkshire venue, that much-improved performance suggested Richard Hannon’s filly is very much going in the right direction and although there’s not much to read into her subsequent victory at Windsor, at least that smooth win went some way to highlight her current wellbeing. Hailing from a yard that has captured this prize with similar types four times in the past decade and seemingly well drawn towards the nearside where all the fancied horses are positioned (last ten winners drawn 15, 16, 25, 19, 13, 13, 15, 14, 10 and 21), the scopey daughter of Cotai Glory makes plenty of each-way appeal with many firms paying out down to fifth. 

HOLDONFORDEARLIFE (best price 16/5) has run a good deal better than his finishing position has suggested on his last two starts and now qualified for his first handicap, Ken Condon’s gelding could well make more of an impact than his position in the market may have you believe. 

Gelded after his second start, the son of Make Believe caught the eye with the way he stayed on from the back of the field to finish a never-nearer third to the very smart Wodao in a hot maiden at Navan and even though he didn’t manage to trouble the judge at Fairyhouse next time, he actually came out of the race with great credit. Drawn right out towards the outside, he ended up having to run most of the race on the wing and giving away valuable ground, but that said, he still finished race with a good deal of purpose leaving the impression he may have gone close but for circumstances beyond his control. Whether stall 10 of 10 today ends up being favourable or not only time will tell, but either way, he remains one of the field with the most potential going forward and he’s worth an interest to see if an opening mark of 79 is exploitable.