Royal Ascot Tips: Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

MERRY MINISTER (best price 9/1) shaped better than the bare result in an above-average novice and well-run (very good speed figure) event at Leicester time out and although there is always a nagging doubt today’s encounter might be used as a springboard for a handicap mark, a chance is taken Ed Walker’s inmate is allowed to run on his merits. 

Stumbling exiting the stalls at the Midland venue, he was soon on the backfoot in rear, but it was encouraging to see him make plenty of nice late headway to finish on the coat tails of the main players and considering he achieved this feat without being unduly punished, his performance was well worth noting. 

Undoubtedly in a much weaker race on paper to the one he faced 14 days ago, a better break from the gates should see the son of Churchill show his true worth.

One of the first of many fascinating two-year-old races during the five days and given his overall record in the race, it is no surprise to see Aidan O’Brien’s representative, River Tiber, a warm order to add his name to his handler’s nine previous winners of this Group 2 affair.

Good both visually and on the clock on soft ground first time out, the son of Wootton Bassett was less so impressive on a quicker surface at Naas last time, so whether he deserves to be quite as short in the market under the current conditions (showers forecast tomorrow morning) is open to question. 

One of the main reasons why River Tiber shortened so dramatically in the betting towards the backend of last week was due to the late scare surrounding ASADNA (NAP) (best price 3/1), but with connections’ giving out positive vibes since that slight (stalls) incident at home, George Boughey’s inmate remains the one most likely to provide the current favourite with the most to worry about. 

Well touted prior to his debut at Ripon, the son of Mehmas settled nicely just in behind the strong pace set by Fifty Grand Slater and when pulled out to deliver his challenge at the two-furlong marker, he simply took off in the hands of William Buick.

In scoring by an ever-increasing 12 lengths, he ended up clocking a sensational time figure for a juvenile and straight away, today’s race was nominated as his next target. Whether he can improve from that effort only time will tell, but even a run somewhere near the same level makes him the one to beat if drawn on the right side (stall 17). 

A wide open-looking renewal of the King’s Stand where pace and the draw are bound to hold the key to the result and with the possibility of a strongly run affair setting it up for a closer, MANACCAN (best price 5/1) makes plenty of appeal to get Frankie Dettori off and running for the week. 

Since finishing fifth of 27 in the Holyroodhouse Handicap here last year, John Ryan’s inmate has improved out of all recognition and with his run in the Palace House on his seasonal bow going a long way to confirm that view, he thoroughly deserves his place in the line-up.

Ultimately drawn on the wrong side at Newmarket that day, he still managed to finish a respectable third on ground more testing than ideal and with that initial outing likely to have done his fitness levels no harm, there is a decent chance he will add to his C&D stats that read 511.

Bring On The Night was always going to be a popular choice given his connections and his run in this race last year (runner-up to Coltrane), but there are plenty of others who enter the equation with similarly compelling claims and, at the prices, both ZOFFEE (best price 14/1) and LAW OF THE SEA (best price 11/1) rate strong each-way alternatives on the back of their Chester Cup form. 

The former came out just slightly more favourably of the pair by chasing home the winner Metier, and considering it was his first run for 216 days on ground softer than desired, his effort in defeat deserves plenty of praise. Placed in two on the most competitive staying handicaps towards the backend of last season, including when a creditable fourth in the Cesarewitch, Hugo Palmer’s gelding has an excellent chance of hitting the frame at the very least if running to a similar level.

The latter was deemed unlucky not to finish closing in the Chester Cup and he deserves to be rated accordingly. Unsuited by a slowly run, tactical affair at Haydock next time, he should be seen to better advantage in a more conventionally run race and hailing from a yard who has captured this prize twice in the last four seasons, Ian William’s’ grey is easily good enough to keep that trend going. 

Arguably one of the toughest races on paper to solve but there is a fair chance either BOLSHOI BALLET (best price 15/2) or POKER FACE (best price 12/1) will prove the answer if running to somewhere near their best form.

The former is probably known for his exploits over further than today’s trip in recent times, but it is worth pointing out Aidan O’Brien’s gelding is a Group 1 winner over 1m2f as a three-year-old and he arrives here in not too bad shape.

Only just run out of the argument over 1m4f at Newbury last time out, the time figure posted from that race 31 days ago and with the runner-up not doing the form any harm at York over the weekend, the five-year-old can go well providing he does not get pinned down on the inside rail from stall 1. 

The latter is the least established of the pair at this level, but he has shown progressive form since stepping into pattern company and there was certainly no shame in getting beaten two lengths by the smart Point Lonsdale at Chester last time out.

Probably unsuited by having to make the running on soft ground on the Roodee, one would imagine Simon & Ed Crisford’s inmate will revert to be ridden more patiently from his wide draw here today and if he gets the breaks at the right time down the straight, he could easily end up being a more significant factor than his odds imply.