Tuesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

AGE OF SAIL (NAP) (best price 15/8) is still searching for his first win, but given his performance in a much better race than the one faces this afternoon last time out, there’s every chance Joseph Parr’s gelding can swiftly put matters right.

A cast-off from the Godolphin set-up, the son of Frankel was quite an expensive purchase for a relatively small stable at the Tattersalls February sale and even though he hasn’t quite repaid all those concerned in kind just yet, all three starts have been sprinkled with plenty of promise.

An encouraging fourth in a hot little novice event at Southwell two starts ago, the lightly-raced three-year-old shaped as though he required a stiff test than the 1m2f journey offered at Sandown last time and with today’s long straight providing him with ample time to get into top gear, nothing should be staying on stronger than him late on.

LAND OF SUMMER (best price 7/1) can marked up as a good bit better than her finishing position suggested at the big meeting in summer and with today’s extra furlong having the potential to bring about further improvement from Richard Hughes’ filly, she receives the confident vote to outrun her odds.

Heading into that competitive environment following two modest efforts, it was easy to understand why she was sent off a 66-1 outsider, but had she got anything like a clear run in the latter stages, she would easily outrun her odds. On the evidence of that display, an extra furlong isn’t going to be a problem and being a daughter of Clodovil, you’d also like to think she will be able to handle today’s underfoot conditions.

SEEOLA (best price 5/2) could never recover from a tardy beginning over today’s C&D last time out, but as she comes out quite well on the speed figures courtesy of that run, she may just be capable of surprising a few on her return visit.

Slowly away on her debut at Southwell, she soon recovered to run a nice race behind several who have gone on to boost the form since and although she went and fluffed her lines at the start for the second time at the Sussex venue next time, there was still similar encouragement to take from her display.

Not having the pace to go with the winner late on, she did, however, keep on nicely to finish a creditable third from the back of the field and with the overall time figure and backend splits, in particular, suggesting it was a fair race of its kind, the daughter of Sea The Stars is more than capable of causing a bit of shock on similar ground to what she encountered 11 days ago. In contrast, today’s favourite, Maghlaak, has yet to race on the turf yet, let alone soft ground, so it’s anyone’s guess how he will perform.

As is often the case in races of this nature, official ratings can prove misleading – even more so when the rain comes – so with that in mind, both PITA PINTA (best price 7/1) and DISCO BOOTS (best price 20/1) can back up that theory at rewarding odds.

The former is guaranteed to be more at home under the prevailing conditions than most, having proven herself on soft ground on numerous occasions, and with one of those times coming over today’s C&D last season, there’s more than a fair chance lightening can strike twice.

Only rated 82 at the time, Fozzy Stack’s filly now finds herself on a perch of 101 thanks to several smart efforts in pattern company and with her best performance coming when she chased home today’s favourite, Yaxeni, in a similar event at Gowran earlier this season, she hasn’t got too much to find with the main players here this afternoon on that evidence.

The latter does have plenty to find according to the official ratings, but on the plus side, she does arrive here on top of her game and potentially on the upgrade. Seemingly well suited by the step up to 1m4f at Roscommon last time out, Peter Fahey’s filly impressed with the way she powered her way to the line, and in doing so, she clocked a very useful time figure for the grade. Moreover, her final three-furlong were much better than the conditions race won by the 90-rated older gelding Dancila over the same C&D, so on that basis, connections are well within their rights to have a pop at trying to gain some valuable black type.

To put the cherry on top of the cake, she hails from a yard whose horses are absolutely bursting with health at present (five of his last seven runners have won) and with her wide draw likely to be seen as a much better draw as the night progresses (field likely to race away from the inside fence) the daughter of Belardo is fancied to considerably punch above her weight.