Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

HIGH SPIRITED (best price 9/1) represents a yard who have already pocketed a similar contest over today’s course this season with Araminta, so despite Henry Candy’s filly seemingly having plenty to find based on official ratings, she could easily prove good enough to justify her connections’ bold approach.

Promising in two outing as a juvenile, the daughter of Belardo made her seasonal bow in a useful fillies’ maiden at Windsor a month ago and despite being sent off 11-1, she proved good enough to beat some highly-regarded types from powerful stables.

Noticeably strong in the latter stages at the Berkshire venue, her speed figure in beating subsequent winner Wind In Your Sails was very good for a race of its kind and with the likelihood of a good deal more to come based on that performance and pedigree (related to a 1m2f winner), the lightly-raced three-year-old can prove to be the joker in the pack.

GOLDEN MELDOY (best price 10/1) did a lot to restore her reputation at Ripon last time out and with the data that day strongly pointing towards her posting a career high, Tim Easterby’s mare makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.

Disappointing on her first three starts this term, a return to 1m2f and a sound surface were the two factors’ connections pinned their hopes on at the Yorkshire venue 10 days ago and as it turned out, she answered every call.

Held up in the rear after a slow beginning, she gradually worked herself into a challenging position turning for home and with a withering run down the straight, she stayed on in purposeful fashion to finish a never-nearer second to Fulfilled, who obtained first run at a vital stage.

Despite today’s contest being a good deal more competitive in terms of numbers, at least she now has the platform from which to build on and having proven her suitability to the Westwood when scoring here last season, everything looks set fair for a bold display with conditions to suit.

THE COOKSTOWN CAFU (best price 7/2) may have easily landed the hat trick had he not missed the break at Thirsk last time out, but he still did more than enough to suggest he remains well treated and he deserves to be played accordingly.

Usually alert from the gates, Kevin Ryan’s gelding was for once caught on heels as the stalls crashed back at the Yorkshire track and although he made up the lost deficit to race prominently turning for home, one can not help feel it was an incident that ultimately cost him dear.

Unable to repel the late thrust of Scottish Summit in the dying strides, he did, however, still managed to run a big speed figure in defeat and with a better beginning here today, his data from that hot contest 23 days ago suggest he is the one to beat.

FULFILLED (best price 3/1) produced a big performance on the clock when making a winning return at Ripon last time out and, with the likelihood of more to come now racing over an extra two furlongs, David Simcock’s inmate is fancied to add to his consistent profile.

Having his first outing for 236 days, he could have been forgiven for coming up short in what turned out to be an extremely strongly run affair for the grade, but he ended up being totally the opposite, staying on strongly in the latter stages to score in game fashion.

Lightly-raced and open to more improvement, the son of Ulysses can maintain his trainer’s excellent strike rate at today’s track (23%).