Royal Ascot Tips: Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

Royal Ascot Racing Tips from Andy Holding

There are sure to go like the clappers here with pace strewn all over the track, so there should not be too many excuses where Elite Status is concerned, who posted a big speed figure under similar circumstances in the National Stakes at Sandown. Given his supremacy on the clock, his price around the 6/4 mark seems about right but for those looking for one at much bigger odds, THUNDER BLUE (best price 40/1) could provide value seekers with more bang for their buck – especially with some firms offering four places.

Beaten but unbowed on his debut at Haydock where track position and inexperience just caught him out, the son of Blue Point was well backed to make amends at Goodwood next time and, in what turned out to be a strongly run affair, he duly landed the punt.

Always travelling well in behind the healthy tempo set by Sennockian, the sturdily built colt quickened smartly to pull clear of his rivals inside the final furlong and it came as no surprise to discover he had run a smart time figure once analysing the data.

Being as he had contested his first two races over six furlongs, the Coventry Stakes would have seemed the next logical step for this promising juvenile but with connections concluding his overall pace and stamina might be better suited to this stiff test over the minimum trip, the Amo Racing team could gain compensation for what to them in this race last year.

With so many unexposed three-year-olds over the trip, it is hard to be too dogmatic which way this race will swing, but there is a decent chance both PERFUSE (best price 17/2) and STRUTH (best price 25/1) have more to offer, and they are taken against the field.

The former is one of the more lightly raced of the field, but what he lacks for in experience, he more than makes up for in natural ability. An eye-catcher on his debut at Pontefract, Sir Michael Stoute’s colt has gone on to win his next two starts and his latest effort when seeing out the 1m4f journey at Doncaster was one of an improving stayer.

Versatile regards underfoot conditions, as he proved when he trounced subsequent winner Rogue Sea on soft ground at Nottingham previously, the son of Lope De Vega looks a pattern horse in the making and off an opening mark of 94, he is fancied to back up that view on his handicap bow.

The latter could not quite cope with the improving Saint George at Doncaster last time out but given what the winner did in the Queens Vase here today, it is little wonder Charlie Johnston’s inmate ended up playing second fiddle.

He did, however, post a useful speed figure in defeat and hailing from a stable that has done well in this race over the years, the son of Australia can easily outrun his odds.

This race takes on a whole new dimension with the late supplementing of Al Asifah and if the visual aspect of her Goodwood victory is to be believed, the 13k stumped up by connections could easily turn out to be money well spent. Chalked up at 4-5 generally, she is now no longer a price where the common man in the street will be prepared to venture, so it makes sense to look towards BLUESTOCKING (best price 6/1) as a value each-way alternative.

Extremely well backed to vindicate the impression she created on her only outing as a two-year-old, Ralph Beckett’s filly failed in her attempt to justify 11-10 favouritism in a listed contest at Newbury, but she did more than enough to suggest it was only money lent in the long term. Having to challenge wide after being held up towards the rear, she gave away valuable track position to the eventually winner Warm Heart, but with the pair pulling nicely clear of the rest, it was still a run of infinite promise.

Sure to improve now stepped up to 1m4f, the daughter of Camelot is strongly fancied to prove she is way better than her current 94 rating.

Many would argue that trying to nail a blancmange to the ceiling is easier than finding the winner of this three-year-old handicap, but for those, this writer included, who love a challenge, the payoff for coming up with the winner far outweighs the risk.

As in the Hunt Cup the day before, choosing one from either side is probably not a bad strategy, so with that in mind, ROYAL CAPE (best price 20/1) from stall 2 and HIGHBANK (best price 22/1) from 31 are the nominated against the field.

The former arrives here following a career high performance when second in the competitive Silver Bowl at Haydock last time out and considering he got almost knocked over going into the first corner, he did well under the circumstances.

Impressive when scoring by ten lengths at Windsor previously, Hughie Morrison’s gelding has a lot of attributes befitting previous winners of this race.

The latter has not run since completing a fine series of placed efforts out in the desert and this looks to have been a plan hatched by connections ever since. A horse who likes to be ridden chilly, this stiff, straight mile could well turn out to be ideal for his style of racing and he has enough class to feature if James Doyle can deliver him to a nicety.

STORM CATCHER (best price 10/1) has unblemished 3-3 record over this C&D and even though he faces a stiffer task on his return to the Chelmsford venue, his valuable knowledge gained in those runs can hopefully allow him to bridge the gap.

Unable to run up the same level on the turf at Newbury last time out, he is better judged on his performance in a competitive handicap at Lingfield two starts ago when he finished off his race strongly and a repeat of something similar would see him right in the mix.

DRUMROLL’s (best price 6/1) only defeat in three starts to date came at the hands of subsequent Irish Guineas and St James’ Palace hero Paddington and with a profile to strongly suggest there is still a good bit more to come from Aidan O’Brien’s colt, today’s examination looks well with his compass.

Off the mark in gritty fashion at the first time of asking, the son of Deep Impact was the only one to offer any assistance to his stable mate (Paddington) in The Tetrarch Stakes at The Curragh next time and that performance clearly stood him in fine stead when he went back to the Co Kildare venue last time out.

Although he needed the stewards to intervene, he proved that he is very much going the right way and with the step up to 1m2f very much playing into his strengths 25 days ago, a similar effort should see him right in the thick of the action at the business end.

BENAVENTE’s (best price 15/2) recent form figures do not look too clever on paper, but a closer inspection suggests he has had legitimate excuses and he is worth a small interest to back up that view.

Better known for his exploits during the winter on the all-weather at Dundalk, Richard O’Brien’s gelding hinted at a return to something approaching his best with a better performance than the bare result suggests here last time out and now back down in grade, he should be capable of playing a more prominent role on his return visit.

Dropped right out from his high draw at the Dublin venue, he still had fresh air behind him as the field turned for home, but he finished his race off to such an effect, he manged to cut the losing margin down to just two lengths at the line. With that first experience of tonight’s track under his belt and hopefully a more prominent early position than 14 days ago, the five-year-old can reward each-way support.