Wednesday Racing Tips From Andy Holding

LADY HAMANA (best price 3/1) shaped with conspicuous promise on her debut at Newmarket earlier this month and with just normal improvement she rates a strong fancy to test previous winner Princeful to the limit. 

Clearly well fancied on her opening gambit based on her starting price, Karl Burke’s filly was soon travelling nicely just in behind the pace and although she couldn’t quite go with the two main players inside the final furlong, she kept on well enough to finish a creditable third.

As the post-race data illuded, the standard of the contest was pretty high and with an action to suggest she will be equally at home on today’s all-weather surface than she was on turf, she can keep up the good work for a stable fine-tuned when it comes to bringing along their two-year-old fillies.  

DEAUVILLE LEGEND (best price 4/1) is holding his form at the highest level in pretty admiral fashion and following another career-high performance at Goodwood last time out, James Ferguson’s inmate can stake a claim for The St Leger later in the season. 

Already a runner-up at Royal Ascot and winner of The Bahrain Trophy, the son of Sea The Stars was rather unjustifiably cast aside in the better for his latest assignment at Goodwood, but as he proved once again, he’s a pretty decent tool at this level.

Held up off the pace in typically patient fashion, the smart three-year-old made his bid down the middle of the track at the same time as favourite New London and although he couldn’t quite go with the Godolphin-trained runner late on, he stayed on in determined style to claim a well-deserved runner-up spot.

In finishing ahead of Derby runner-up, Hoo Ya Mal, there’s an argument to made he ran to a career-high level in defeat and with his time figures during this campaign going along way to back up all his performances, the only issue he faces here today is whether he handles the Knavesmire at the first attempt. Other than that unknown entity, he pretty much has all other bases covered. 

DEW YOU BELIEVE (best price 7/2) was given a well-judged ride to make it 2-3 over today’s C&D last time out and with similar tactics likely to be in operation once again on his return visit, Michael Appleby’s gelding makes plenty of appeal to defy his rise in the ratings. 

For a horse who has shown a distinct liking for the extended mile here, it came as no surprise to find he rather struggled to back up that sole career win over distances of 1m4f or beyond, but on returning to his optimum trip here last time he duly made no mistake. Ridden with plenty of intent, the four-year-old soon established a decent rhythm at the head of affairs and although he was running on fumes inside the final furlong, he never really looked like getting caught.

Time-wise, his effort proved to be the second fastest on the seven-race card, which is pretty good for a 46-rated handicapper, and with today’s opposition nowhere as strong as those he faced 19 days ago (runner-up Adelisa was rated 72), the son of Make Believe can hopefully repeat the dose if he gets the run for the race up front. 

ALFRED BOUCHER (best price 7/1) proved that he stayed today’s trip in conclusive fashion at Chester two starts ago and with his latest effort back at the same track a continuation of his good recent form, Ian Williams’ grey looks booked for another positive display. 

Better known for his exploits over 1m4f, the six-year-old was tried over two miles for the first time on the Roodee on his opening gambit for his new trainer and given the way he finished off his race that day, connections were totally vindicated in rolling the dice.

Take his strong-finishing stable mate Haliphon out of the equation and he would have gained immediate compensation in a competitive handicap over four furlongs shorter on his return visit last time out, but with that effort strongly suggesting he is still heading in the right direction – certainly if the speed figure is anything to go by – the son of Aussie Rules can carry on the good work at a track he seemed to handle just fine as a four-year-old. 

ROGUE SPIRIT (best price 11/1) has yet to finish out of the frame in all five starts to date and based on the figures he’s been compiling along the way, that record has fine chance of staying intact. 

Victorious in two of his first three starts, Tom Clover’s gelding was given a chance to race for the big bucks in the Super Sprint at Newbury on his next outing and in staying on well to finish a creditable third behind Eddie’s Boy, he did about as well as he could under the circumstances of trying to chase down a very strong pace set by the winner.

Upped in trip at Chester last time out, the son of Dark Angel just got worried out of the argument late on having looked as though he was going to land the prize turning for home, but with the time figure of the race only just below the one posted by the 107-rated older sprinter Ebro River over the same C&D, it’s easy to come to the conclusion he ran to a career high in defeat.

Amazingly dropped in the ratings despite that sterling effort, he now returns to his favoured fast ground (good-to-soft, soft in places at Chester) and providing he ends up being draw on the right side (stall 16), a big run is anticipated from this smart juvenile.