Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

AMORTENTIA (NAP) (best price 9-4) could never land a blow at the main protagonists in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, but he should find today’s contest a good deal more civilised and he’s fancied to bounce back over a trip that might prove to be his optimum going forward.

A smooth winner on his seasonal bow at Naas, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding was extremely popular for his latest assignment at the Berkshire venue and even though the bare result may look a shade disappointing at first glance, the numbers from that extremely competitive mile handicap suggested he fared a good deal better than first feared. Keeping on at the one pace from over two furlongs out, the son of Caravaggio just didn’t have the speed of many who clearly have the potential to cut their teeth at a much higher level and with the subsequent form working out as well as the figures suggested they might (third and 15th won since), finishing 11th of the 30-strong field only beaten five lengths certainly reads well in the context of today’s race. Having won well over today’s track as a two-year-old and out of a mare who stayed 1m4f well, the three-year-old grey can come into his own back at a more realistic level.

SEISAI (best price 7-1) hasn’t managed to add to the win column in any of her four starts this term, but with her last two performances initiating a good deal more promise, Joseph O’Brien’s filly may just prove to be the surprise package of the race.

A listed winner at two and placed in a Group 3, the daughter of Gleneagles made a pretty inauspicious start to the new campaign when unable to live with the likes of Homeless Songs & Co over seven furlongs, but since stepped up in trip, she has gradually got better with each run. A little unlucky here two starts ago when short of room at a crucial stage behind stable mate Hannibal Barca (fourth horse home Boundless Ocean won since), she was also done few favours in the run at Naas last time out. Noted travelling well turning for home, she ended up repeatedly being denied a clear run and given the way she finished off her race close home, it’s easy to come to the conclusion she could have won with a smoother passage. Obviously, she will have to step up again to meet the level require here in this Group 2, but on the evidence of her recent exploits 25 days ago, she may prove equal to the task.