Andy Holding is back with three tips from today's action, with runners at Chester and Newmarket.
15:17 Chester
WINTER CROWN (NAP) (best price 10/3) finally got rewarded for a series of near misses when winning with a bit to spare at Nottingham last time out and with proven solid C&D form on soft ground under his belt, Julie Camacho’s gelding rates one of the stronger plays of the day.
Dropped to Class 4 company after contesting some of the hottest three-year-old sprint handicaps in the early part of the campaign, the son of Invincible Spirit was unsurprisingly made a warm favourite at the Midland venue and, after travelling well throughout, he duly justified his position in the market.
A massive eye-catcher when almost defying a terrible draw on the Roodee at the May meeting, he returns to the scene of that career high effort with the wind in his sails and positioned much more favourably – so what’s not to like?
16:00 Newmarket
The rain which has fallen on the track in the last 24 hours has put a totally different spin on this competitive seven-furlong handicap but one who should benefit greatly from the change in conditions is BIGGLES (best price 6/1) and he rates a confident choice to be somewhere on the premises if his high draw turns out to be a positive.
Sent off favourite for the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Ascot last time out, Ralph Beckett’s inmate ultimately could only finish ninth of the 27-strong field but as he didn’t get the clearest of passages over on the far side, his run can be forgiven to a large degree.
Better judged on his performance when runner-up in the Victoria Cup over the same C&D previously, the son of Zoffany maintained his fine record of 21122 when the word soft has appeared in the going description and with today’s stiff track likely to play into his strengths, it would be a shock if he didn’t have a big say in the final outcome.
16:27 Chester
At first glance, the draw seems to have done FAST RESPONSE (best price 10/1) few favours but, with the strong possibility the inside part of the track will have taken quite a battering come the backend of the day, Karl Burke’s filly could well have the luxury on racing on a better strip of ground out wide and, for that reason, she makes quite a bit of appeal at the morning odds.
Only finding one too good in the Cammidge Trophy on her seasonal bow at Doncaster, she once again proved her liking for soft underfoot conditions that day and with the winner going on to suggest the form was pretty good for a race of its kind, she should have little trouble coping with the level of opposition she faces here this afternoon.
The only slight issue she faces is slight doubts about the trip but, as she has looked a strong stayer under testing conditions over six furlongs in the past, a chance is taken she can prove equally effective over further.
