Wednesday Racing Tips From Andy Holding

Charlie Appleby took this race last year with Modern Games, so his representative here under a similar name needs to be respected, but conditions will be different to what he encountered last time, whereas HOUR BY HOUR (best price 7/1), already proven on soft ground, will relish any give underfoot. 

The son of Time Test travelled well for a long way at Haydock on his previous outing before his stamina gave way over a mile, but dropped back a full two furlongs at Hamilton last time out, he was able to show what he could do. Once again impressing with the way he moving throughout, the scopey juvenile quickened well from the front to pull readily clear in the closing stages and with his time figure comparing favourable with some of the better races on the card, he clearly ran to a pretty decent standard.

Deservedly up to a mark of 76 following that effort, today’s race will obviously be a totally different proposition to the one he faced 12 days ago, but he is developing along the right path and any further showers will inconvenience him less than some of his rivals. 

A race sure to be run at a sound clip with King Of Stars and Mo Celita in the line-up and that should be music to the ears for connections of MANACCAN (NAP) (best price 9/4), who is drawn right next to the two likely trail-blazers. 

A creditable fifth at Royal Ascot from what turned out to be a coffin box draw (stall 31), the subsequent form of the race at the Berkshire venue has worked out to suggest John Ryan’s ran even better than first thought on the day (Navello, Designer, Tippy Toes, Ladies Church, Dynamic Force and Catch Cunningham all won since), so it came as no great surprise to see him go close to adding to that list at Chester next time. Back on a straight track and returning to the scene of his career-high performance next time, the son of Exceed And Excel this time made no mistake, once again, excelling in a strongly run environment. Not quite seeing out six-furlongs on his return to pattern level at Newmarket last time, today’s race looks tailor made for his run style and with the booking of Ryan Moore seen as the icing on the cake, his prospects are there for all to see. 

VULCAN (best price 10/1) wasn’t able to run to his best at Chelmsford due to how the race panned out but, with today’s affair likely to be run at a more sensible gallop, Ralph Beckett’s gelding can rebound back in the right direction. 

Shaping well behind the progressive Ziggy on the turf back in May, the son of Free Eagle was nicely supported to go one place better at Newcastle next time and, in what turned out to be a strongly-run affair, he came through smoothly from the back of the field to score with plenty in hand. Form-wise, the race at Gosforth Park couldn’t have worked out any better with the likes of Spirit Dancer, Strawberri, Sea The Shells and Lasting Legacy all going on to win since, so it was a little disappointing to all concerned that he could add to that tally himself at the Essex venue when last seen. Held up towards the rear, the steady early pace that turned into a dash for the line ultimately didn’t play into his strengths, but as today’s track often complements horses ridden off the pace on the round course, the five-year-old should receive the perfect set-up for him to come through strong at the business end.