Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

AMERICAN SONJA (best price 2/1) ran out a silky-smooth winner on her seasonal reappearance at Gowran recently and with the speed figure pointing in the direction of a filly ready for something more meaningful than handicaps, Joseph O’Brien’s filly can continue the fine recent run of her handler. 

Extremely well backed to make light of a competitive field at the Co Kenny venue, the daughter of Tasleet was ridden with a huge amount of confidence in her bid to justify heavy market support and once asked to go and pick up the pace setters inside the final two furlongs, she found a ready turn of foot to seal the deal with a bit to spare. 

Unsurprisingly, she posted the fastest closing sectionals on the seven-race card and, with the potential of a good deal more to come, this improving filly can take the step up in class in her stride.

VILLANOVA QUEEN (best price 5/1) took a huge step forward when beating the boys in an above-average conditions event at Tipperary on her first outing of the season and, having also shown a distinct liking for today’s track in the past, the daughter of Mastercraftsman can continue her rise through the ranks.

Not seen out since disappointing in the Irish 1000 Guineas, the market spoke favourably of a decent run on her first start for 333 days and, as it turned out, the confidence behind her chances were well and truly justified. Staying on best of all down the outside, Jessica Harrington’s filly mowed down a useful collection of performers at that level and, in doing so, she ended up clocking a decent time figure.
Likely to take another step forward, the flashy chestnut returns to the scene of two of her best previous performances and with conditions in her favour, another big effort should be forthcoming.

VIA SISTINA (best price 15/4) has shown from time to time what a decent filly she can be when on her A-game and with two of her best career performances coming over today’s course, George Boughey’s mare rates a strong fancy to shine again on her return to the Rowley Mile. 

A winner of a competitive handicap in canter on her first visit to HQ, the five-year-old returned to the scene of that impressive success a year later in a bid to add black type to her c.v and, it what turned out to be easily her toughest task to date, she accomplished that feat with a career-high effort. Coming from miles off the pace that day, she left the impression she would have captured the prize if her run had started a bit sooner and she duly went on to back up that theory with a success at Group 3 level on her final outing of the campaign. 

Arriving here fresh and well with conditions in her favour, anything other than a prominent display will be a disappointing outcome for all concerned. 

Having already nominated Dream Of Love to capture Classic glory a while ago, there seems no obvious reason to think any differently towards the daughter of Shamardal’s prospects, especially as today’s soft ground will inconvenience her less than most.

Seemingly improved since finishing third in the Montrose Fillies’ Stakes over the C&D last October on the evidence of her most recent effort out in Dubai, where she came within inches of making up the thick end of ten lengths on the prominently ridden Mawj, a good draw smack bang in the middle of the course is the final piece in the jigsaw to her already strong-looking claims. 

Looking back towards that keenly contested listed prize in the autumn, it is worth remembering how convincingly CAERNARFON (best price 33/1) beat Charlie Appleby’s filly on the day and, at the morning prices, she has to be added to the current betting strategy. 

Good enough to mix it with the colts on her first attempt at pattern level at Pontefract previously, she still headed into that competitive race back against her own sex as one of the outsiders but, having being switched off out the back to come with a late run, she swooped to conquer on the climb to the line to score with more in hand than her winning margin suggested. 

Posting a smart time figure in the process, Jack Channon’s filly highlighted her ability to quicken in rain-softened ground and, as we have seen on many occasions in the past in these sorts of races, the conditions on the day can be a great leveller. A full sister to Dan’s Dream, who also enjoyed plenty of dig in the ground, everything looks set fair for the daughter of Cityscape to outrun her 40-1 quotes.

DEFENCE OF FORT (best price 6/1) did not really go on in the manner expected following a sparkling debut success at Ascot as a two-year-old, but with another year on his back and fresh off a gelding operation, a chance is taken on Pater Chapple Hyam’s inmate bouncing back to something approaching his best. 

A four-length winner on his opening gambit at the Berkshire track, the time figure he posted on that July afternoon suggested he was easily up to pattern class but, as it materialised, he failed to give himself any chance of backing up that view. 

Failing to settle in the Solario Stakes at Sandown on his next start, the son of Starspangledbanner proceeded to jump in the air and lost any chance he might have had at a similar level on his final start of the campaign at Newbury. 

Subsequently gelded in the off season, the flashy chestnut returns to the fray hopefully a more measured individual than we witnessed on his final two starts and, in hope we see the real Defence Of Fort stand up, a chance is worth taking at the morning prices.