Andy Holding is back with three tips for today's action, with runners at Cartmel, Uttoxeter and Curragh.
14:05 Cartmel
MARSHALLED (best price 7/1) came within one more stride of landing a competitive C&D handicap last time out and with a return to the picturesque venue seen as a positive for Ben Haslam’s inmate, he can more than hold his own in this better-quality affair.
A four-time winner for Padraig Roche in Ireland, the son of Flemensfirth didn’t take too long to add to that tally on his fourth start for new connections and if it wasn’t for a couple of sloppy jumps at the fifth and fourth from home respectively, there is little doubt he would have repeated the dose on his first outing at today’s track.
Fancied to turn around the form with old rival Ubetya on the evidence of that performance 34 days ago, the nine-year-old rates a solid contender to compete at this slightly higher level.
15:12 Uttoxeter
TWIG (best price 5/1) has long left the impression a decent pot is well within his capabilities and, following a cosy success over hurdles here last time out, Ben Pauling’s gelding can justify that viewpoint on his return to fences.
More than useful over the smaller obstacles, as he proved here 43 days ago, it is worth noting he is also 3/4 over fences his joining the professional ranks and he still looks fairly well treated on the pick of his best form.
The way he travels through his races is always likely to see him arriving at the business end of a contest holding every chance and that should turn out to be the case with the pace almost guaranteed to be strong from the outset.
16:50 Curragh
On the evidence of what occurred in the Kensington Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot, there is nothing much to separate both ADELAISE (best price 4/1) and Yerwanthere, but with the former having the advantage of acquainting herself with today’s course two starts ago, the daughter of Lawman might be capable of gaining yard bragging rights.
Unable to make any sort of impact over seven furlongs on soft ground for new connections here last September, she looked a totally different model when sporting the hood for the first time back at the Co Kildare venue 244 days later, finishing very strongly to claim third close home after suffering interference in running.
Sent over the Irish Sea to tackle her toughest task so far to date, she once again didn’t receive the clearest of runs at critical stages of the race, but it was noticeable she was slightly stronger than her stable companion in the final 100yds and it’s for that reason why she makes quite a bit of appeal at twice the price.
