Wednesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LUNAR LANDSCAPE (NAP) (best price 9/4) failed in his bid to justify short priced favouritism at Ffos Las last time out, but his time figure in defeat suggests he probably went too hard from the front and for that reason, he is afforded another chance reverting to a more conservative ride. 

An excellent third in a warm three-year-old handicap for the grade at Newbury previously, it was easy to see why Eve Johnson Houghton’s inmate was odds on to back up that effort at the Welsh venue nine days ago but as things panned out, he just came up a little short in the final analysis. 

Forced to row his own boat due to no other horse wanting to make the running, he was rather left with his chin hanging out in the latter stages but he did at least keep on well enough all the way to the line to suggest he remains in excellent shape, and with today’s track and drop back in trip likely to suit better, he has a decent chance to finally shed the maiden tag.

BOTANICAL (best price 3/1) faces a tough opponent in the shape of previous C&D winner Measured Time, but he does have useful form at the track tucked away in his memory bank and with the additional advantage of proven fitness on his side, the combination of those two factors tips the balance in favour of Roger Varian’s inmate at the morning odds. 

A big eye-catcher on his debut at the Sunbury venue back in June, the son of Lope De Vega was sent up north in order to shed his maiden tag and despite coming up against two above-average southern raiders, he readily came out on top.

In winning going away by three lengths, he clocked a smart speed figure for a race of its kind and now back on a surface and track that clearly suits, he is fancied to keep the favourite honest at the very least.

SARAH’S VERSE (best price 11/2) split two in-form fillies at Ascot last time despite giving a huge amount of ground away at the start and with today’s contest representing a serious drop down in class for Ronald Harris’ mare, she rates a decent proposition at the morning prices. 

Not for the first time in her career, her propensity to be slowly away put her in an uncompromising position in the early part of the race at the Berkshire venue but to her ultimate credit she not only made up the lost deficit, she was the only one to offer any resistance to the winner, Woolhampton, inside the final furlong. 

Moreover, had she not been forced to challenge on the slowest part of the track, she may have obliged and with that performance going a long way to suggest she is back to the same form which saw her account for a competitive field at Bath earlier in the campaign, the daughter of Poet’s Voice can justify a confident each-way vote.

MARMARA SEA (best price 6/1) ultimately got brushed aside by two smart colts on the turf at Newmarket last time out, but she is best judged on her previous effort on an all-weather surface against her own sex at Lingfield previously and a run of a similar standard is likely to see Jane Chapple-Hyam’s filly bang in the mix. 

Nicely backed to get off the mark at the Surrey venue despite being off the track for 59 days, it looked likely the daughter of Golden Horn was going to justify the money in her direction until the late thrust of the patiently ridden Queen Emma spoilt the part close home. 

Looking back at the data from that contest a month ago, it reveals she ran by far and away her best set of figures despite the defeat and having already proved she can cope with a well-run affair at this level, she rates a strong choice to do so again hailing from a yard just beginning to turn the corner.