Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

WHENTHEDEALINSDONE (best price 9/2) arrives here right at the peak of his powers on the evidence of his recent triumph at Ascot last weekend and with conditions set to favour Roger Teal’s gelding once more, he’s fully expected to play a leading role in a race he was fifth last season. 

The son of Dark Angel first gave us proof that he was a fairly useful tool given some ease in the ground when he landed a competitive three-year-old handicap at Glorious Goodwood last season in some style and although we had to wait a while for him to reach similar heights, the result was just as impressive. Noted going extremely well in behind the pace two out at the Berkshire venue, the way he quickened to put the race to bed in a matter of strides was taking to say the very least and with the time figure unsurprisingly backing up the visual aspect of the performance, everything about the display looks totally believable. Given how the way most races have developed over the previous few days on Town Moor, at first glance stall 20 wouldn’t seem ideal, but when you recognise the likes of Justanotherbottle and Bergerac are draw towards the nearside, the mind is very much eased on that score. Not quite mature enough to get the job done here twelve months ago, confidence is high the improving sprinter will prove to be a totally proposition this time around. 

Highfield Princess looks a worthy favourite on all known form and she’s likely to prove very difficult to beat on the evidence of her recent success in the Nunthorpe at York. The one unknown, is her lack of experience at today’s track and combined with conditions likely to be very different to what they were on the Knavesmire, she’s passed over in favour of DRAGON SYMBOL (best price 16/1).

Beaten fair and square by John Quinn’s outstanding mare 23 days ago, the son of Cable Bay was, however, noted doing some sterling late work inside the final two furlongs and considering a sharp five-furlongs on fast ground Is pretty much no use to him nowadays, his effort in finishing a never-nearer fifth was a praiseworthy one. Better known for his exploits on a softer surface, his performances in last season’s Commonwealth Cup and King George Stakes are a truer reflection of his capabilities and it’s on that foundation that the case for his prospects are built. 

There’s little doubt New London holds the key to the outcome of the final Classic of the season, his victory in the Gordon Stakes easily the best singular piece of form on show, but a good deal depends on the state of the ground where he is concerned and on that basis, the safer option may be to side with HOO YA MAL (best price 7/1), who is at least proven over today’s trip under the prevailing conditions.

Looking back at that race at the Sussex venue - which has worked out incredibly well since - George Boughey's colt was beaten fair and square on the day, but in mitigation, it was his first start for a new stable and off a 54-day break, so there may have been several other factors at play. Since then, the son of Territories has gone on to highlight his wellbeing with smooth success back at the same track a month later and in doing so, he also proved that he stays the Leger trip extremely well. In what turned out to be a strongly-run affair despite the small field, the way he travelled and quickened to depose of the useful filly Perfect Alibi was impressive to say the least and it came as no surprise to find the speed figure from that race two weeks ago was extremely good. Good enough to run well over a mile in the Craven Stakes, classy enough to finish runner-up in the Derby and yet to finish out of the first three in all of his eight starts, Hoo Ya Mal makes plenty of appeal as a strong each-way alternative to the favourite. 

Kyprios has been the dominant force in this division all season, but at the same time, all his best performances have taken place on a sound surface, so whether he will be as fully effective on today’s soft ground is open to question. RAISE YOU (best price 6/1), on the other hand, will relish any give underfoot and at the morning prices, he makes far more appeal – particular those looking for an each-way alternative. 

Nothing short of a revelation since stepped up to distances of 1m4f and beyond, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding arrives here following easily his most notable performance so far to date when he accounted for the smart Search For A Song in the trial for this race 29 days ago. Always going well throughout, the son of Lope De Vega only had to be nudged out in the latter stages to take care of his main rival and with the clock revealing that they’d gone a good gallop right from the start, his performance deserves even more praise than it did at first glance. Saved for today’s race ever since, the six-year-old couldn’t arrive here in better form and being one of only two previous C&D winners in the field guaranteed to handle the conditions, it would come as a major shock if he doesn’t end up playing a leading role. 

The unbeaten Streets Of Gold will no doubt prove popular following his recent York success, but whether he quite has the same level of form in the book as TOSTADO (NAP) (best price 3/1) is open to debate and at the prices, Andrew Balding’s colt rates a strong choice to back up that view. 

Beaten on merit by today’s favourite on debut at Newmarket, the Kessaar colt subsequently went on to leave that run well behind at Chester next time out and with the form of that contest on the Roodee given a boost by Cold Case twice over since, it’s clear we are now dealing with a juvenile totally different in every aspect to the one we witnessed on his opening gambit. Very game once headed 42 days ago, that willingness to battle should stand him in good stead over today’s stiff track and on ground a good deal softer than advertised.