Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ESTATE (best price 9/4) was a respectable third in quite a good race for the grade at Goodwood last time out and now dropping down a level which last saw him successful three starts ago, Andrew Balding’s inmate can take advantage of what appears a decent opportunity.

Drawn out on the wing at the Sussex track, there was always every possibility he would fail to gain any cover in the early stages and, off a modest tempo down to halfway set by eventual winner, Spartan Arrow, that is exactly how things transpired.

Despite racing with the choke out, however, he still managed to keep on well in the closing stages and it was a performance to suggest he remains in excellent shape. Prior to those exploits, the son of Showcasing had also shown up well in a hot contest at the Epsom’s Derby meeting despite slow start and providing William Buick can get him into a reasonably good position from his tricky draw, there is every chance he will have the necessary requirements at the business end to take away the prize.

STERLING KNIGHT (best price 4/1) ran out a convincing winner of a competitive C&D handicap last time out and with that victory going a long way to further bolster his overall record at the Berkshire venue, Ed Dunlop’s gelding rates a strong choice to keep those positive stats intact (1331).

Unable to trouble the judge on his first two starts of the season, a switch to his old stomping ground allowed him to change around his fortunes in a major way and with the runner-up, Lequinto, going on to advertise the form subsequently, it is easy to come to the conclusion he probably ran to a career high level.

Upped in grade because of that success, he will obviously have to raise his game again, but with conditions identical and with so many of his rivals not in a great headspace at present, the combination of those factors may be enough for him to prove equal to the task.