Andy Holding is back with four tips for today's action, including a NAP at Naas.
15:25 Naas
CRAFT IRISH (NAP) (best price 2/1) ran extremely well for a horse of her rating in a useful listed fillies’ contest here last time out and now with her sights significantly lowered, the daughter of Adaay can regain the winning thread.
A proper money spinner for her small stable last season, connections have been desperate to gain some black type since working her way through the handicap ranks, and although she failed in her bid to achieve that feat 12 days ago, the number she posted in defeat suggest she wasn’t far off her previous best.
Keeping on well towards the stands’ side rail, the five-year-old finished in and around many fillies who were significantly better according to the official assessor and a run of a similar standard should see her tough to beat on her return to the Kildare track.
16:35 Naas
Vauban was always likely to be a warm order after running out one of the most impressive winners at the Royal meeting, but he does face a rival in the shape of VALIANT KING (best price 5/1) who should give him more to think about than the majority did at the Berkshire venue and at the prices, the improving three-year-old rates the value alternative to the favourite.
The King George V Handicap is always one of the more keenly contested affairs at Royal Ascot and other than the late thrust of Desert Hero, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate would have come out on top. That said, given what the winner has gone on to achieve subsequently his performance looks a good deal better than it did at the time and with soft ground not seen as an issue based on his previous victory at Navan, he can lay claim to not only justifying his first attempt in Group company, but mould himself into a genuine proposition for the St Leger at Doncaster in a month’s time.
