Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MAKAROVA (best price 12/1) has a mountain to climb against many of these established sprinters according to the official ratings, but she showed enough of a step forward at Ayr last time out to suggest she at least deserves a shot at this level, and at the morning odds, she warrants a small interest.

Held up off the speed in what turned out to be an extremely strongly run five-furlong listed fillies’ even at the Scottish venue, Ed Walker’s filly was produced to a nicety to challenge at the furlong pole and from that point onwards, she sped clear with a smart turn of foot.

Campaigned mainly over six-furlongs last season, she seems to be more at home over the minimum trip and hailing rom a yard who have one of the most impressive strike rates at present (36%), this race has the possibility of setting up nicely for her to come through strong at the business end.

OUZO (best price 7/1) returned to these shores following stint out in the desert to run his usual solid race in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last time out and with that effort likely to have brought him a little closer to peak fitness, Jamie Osbourne’s ever-reliable gelding can make up for his unlucky third in this race last season.

Sent off 33/1 at the Berkshire venue despite a series of excellent performances from poor draws out in Meydan, the seven-year-old kept on his extremely game fashion to finish a close-up sixth up the stands’ side rail and with the standard of this year’s renewal seemingly higher than ever before, his effort is not to be underestimated.

Yet to finish out of the money on all three visits to today’s track, he would have gone close to adding to a previous course win but for not getting the clearest of passages at a crucial stage here twelve months ago and hailing from a yard who have just struck a nice bit of form, the son of Charm Sprit is expected to keep up the good work for the Lambourn handler.

SEA SILK ROAD (best price 4/1) proved that her first run of the season was not a true reflection of her powers when scoring in determined fashion over today’s C&D last time out and with a profile to suggest she should be able to cope with whatever the weather throws at her (rain forecast), William Haggas’ filly is fancied to cause a mini upset.

Fading out of the equation after pulling too hard on her seasonal bow at York, the daughter of Sea The Stars had her sights lowered on her latest encounter and after being held up in the rear through the first part of the contest, she came through with a strong late surge to capture the Group 3 prize with a bit to spare.

Deliberately swerving Royal Ascot with a view to coming here fresh, the four-year-old should be just about at fever pitch on her return to the Merseyside venue and although Mimikyu represents an extremely tough opponent, she has more than enough ability to warrant an interest at the morning odds.

SIOUX SPIRIT (best price 7/2) really appreciated the drop back to six furlongs when dishing out a healthy beating to a competitive field over today’s C&D last time out and a performance of a similar level should see Ken Condon’s inmate make a brave attempt to repeat the dose.

Well beaten over a mile on his previous start, connections clearly needed rethink and, as it panned out, the daughter of Sioux Nation was more than equal to the task. Staying on best of all in the closing stages, she readily accounted for many in-form sprinters and with the runner-up, Aussie Girl, going on to advertise the form with a victory at The Curragh next time, the form rates solid enough for her to be an obvious candidate on her return to the Co Kildare track.

MILLER SPIRIT (best price 7/1) is one of the most unexposed members of today’s field but, having run noticeably well on his last two starts in above-average maidens, Gary Moore’s inmate could easily cast his inexperience to one side and make an impact on handicap debut.

Having his third run for a mark at Windsor last time out, the son of Australia wasn’t knocked about once his winning chance had gone and when you consider his previous outing in a quality novice event at Chepstow, an opening assessment of 78 seems more than workable. Indeed, both the second and third from that race at the Welsh track have gone on to score convincingly since and, as they are now rated 87 and 85 respectively, he can be competitive off his opening perch.