Saturday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MAX MAYHEM (best price 10/1) has twice proved that today’s C&D holds no fears with what have turned out to be career high performances and with the ground continuing to dry out all the time, Kevin Philippart De Foy’s gelding has better prospects of finally scoring for new connections than his position in the market suggests.

A creditable sixth in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at the Royal meeting, the five-year-old returned to the scene of that effort to contest a similar prize in terms of class and all but for the late finish of the well-handled City Streak, he would have come away with the main pot.

Clearly well suited to the configurations of the track and now proven to handle a significant amount of ease underfoot, he looks to be underestimated in the market considering his overall profile.

CAROLINA REAPER (best price 5/1) took a huge step forward when scoring with a tremendous amount of authority over today’s C&D last time out and even though this assignment represents a totally different test in terms of opposition, the numbers she posted 21 days ago suggests she could be equal to the task.

Well backed to get off the mark at the third time of asking following her excellent effort in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Charlie Johnston’s inmate was keen to make her vital experience count and in leading the field a merry dance right from the start, she ended up clocking a smart time figure as well as being impressive on the eye.

The way she powered her way up the hill and lengthening all the way to the line left the feeling that she is once again ready to tackle pattern level and this time against her own sex, she might have the necessary requirements her opponents can not match.

FREE SOLO (best price 9/1) has produced three solid performances since joining new connections and with the latest of the trio coming in a decent race for the grade at The Galway festival, optimism is high the six-year-old can go well again in this similar handicap.

Picked up for 16k from the Jamie Osbourne stable, the son of Showcasing made a brave fist of getting a huge chunk of that purse in one fell swoop at Ballybrit a week ago, but he ultimately succumbed to the powerful late finish of the in-form mare, Bells On Her Toes, who was more conservatively ridden.

That said, he had to be praised for being the one responsible for helping push a big speed figure for the grade and with the form subsequently boosted later at the same fixture by the likes of Laughifuwant, Spanish Tenor, and Half Nutz, it makes the case for to stay loyal to him in this contest a watertight one.

TARRABB (best price 10/1), like many of today’s runners, has a bit to find based on the official figures but, as these events tend not to go to script, Owen Burrows’ filly is taken to punch above her weight at a track where she has already tasted success in the past.

Aimed at the Kensington Palace Handicap at the Royal meeting, she did everything asked of her in her pursuit to execute the plan, but unfortunately for her and her supporters, she ended up challenging in the hardest place to win at Ascot – up the inside - and she just got run out of the argument late on.

Still, it was another fine effort by a filly who continues to run at a consistent level and having found today’s track to her liking on her only previous visit last season, gaining some well-deserved black type looks on the cards despite her morning odds suggesting otherwise.

PARTING GLASS (best price 12/1) just found the combination of soft ground over an extended five furlongs a bridge too far at Navan last time out but being as he travelled like the best horse in the race for much of the journey, he makes quite bit of appeal under slightly less demanded conditions.

Undone by being upset in the stalls on his two previous starts, Fozzy Stack’s inmate showed none of those tendencies at the Co Meath venue and having shot clear at the furlong pole, it seemed likely he would confirm his previous progressive. However, once meeting the rising ground, he drifted off the favoured stands side rail to allow the strong finishing The Snapper to pick his pocket late on and he ended up having to settle for an honourable second.

Based on that run, he looked the type who might do well running off a low weight in a higher grade and with that theory coming to pass on his very next outing, the son of Starspangledbanner is worth supporting accordingly.