Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

POLISH (NAP) (best price 5/2) had to be classed slightly unfortunate to bump into a tenacious rival in the shape of Scarpia over today’s C&D last time out, but as that initial outing for 345 days is bound to have done Fergal O’Brien’s inmate the world of good, confidence is high he can go one place better on his return to the Midland venue.

Having yo-yoed between John Gallagher and his current trainer, the eight-year-old came back to roost at the Withington residence for his latest encounter and, having travelled nicely throughout what turned out to be a well-run affair, he only narrowly failed to make an instant impact.

However, what the outing did prove is that the eight-year-old unequivocally stays 2m7f well and with today’s contest offering similar challenges to the ones he faced 20 days ago, hopefully he will have the answers this time around.

MYMOMENTINTIME (best price 5/1) missed an engagement in the Rockingham Handicap at The Curragh last weekend due to unsuitably quick ground, but with conditions set to be more favourable for Susan Finn’s gelding here this evening, the top weight can go well from his potentially useful high draw.

A wide margin winner of a competitive handicap at the Co Kildare venue last season, the son of Kantharos failed in his bid to follow up when well fancied to do so back over the same C&D next time, but his two runs so far this term have suggested he is edging back to something close to his best.

Shaping at though needing the outing following a 167-day break at Cork back in April, he came out of his latest encounter at Naas with great credit by finishing second of the group who raced over on the far side and with the likes of Harry’s Hill, So Majestic and Screen Siren all going on to win next time out, the form seems reliable.

Racing over a track tonight that often has a pronounced bias towards those who race up the nearside rail, his draw is stall 12 should allow him to jump on to the better ground and, having already gone well on his only previous visit to the Limerick Junction venue, another bold show looks on the cards.

SWEET REWARD (best price 11/2) couldn’t match the big guns in extremely good race for the grade at Sandown last time out, but with tonight’s contest seen as a welcome relief in terms of top-quality opposition, Jonathan Portman’s gelding can capitalise on this decent-looking opportunity.

In hindsight, trying to match strides with the powerful galloper Youthful King (won since) at the Esher venue wasn’t the wisest move in the world and it came as no surprise to see him fade in the closing stages of a very strongly run affair.

That said, the time figure of the race suggested he still ran close to his career best and having gone well at tonight’s venue under similar conditions in the past, a significant drop down in grade might just prove to be the springboard he needs to find the back of the net again.