Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CAPOTE’S DREAM (best price 11/2) made up for being narrowly denied victory over today’s C&D at Windsor last time out and with conditions very much in his favour on his return to the Sussex venue, Tom Ward’s inmate can put in another decent shift.

A fast-finishing runner-up in the Stewards Cup consolation at Glorious Goodwood, the son of Dream Ahead was sent to the Berkshire venue a week later in a bid to gain compensation and despite not getting the clearest of passages in the closing stages he still managed to seize the prize.

Clearly in the rudest of health based on his last three starts, he also has the beating of one of today’s favourites, Many A Star, on the evidence of their clash here 22 days ago and with him being positioned close to the likely pacesetter Indian Creek, his usual strong finish should see him right in the thick of the action late on.

CHARMING WHISPER (best price 7/1) exhibited admirable battling qualities when causing a big shock over today’s C&D last time out and with his experience likely to count for plenty, he is fancied to prove that initial success was no fluke.

Never a factor on his debut at Kempton after a slow beginning, it was easy to understand why he was sent off such a big price on his first start on turf but, after breaking much more alertly and racing handy from an early stage, he kept on very strongly to repel the persistent challenge of hot favourite Loaded Quiver.

Clocking a decent time into the bargain, it is also worth noting he readily beat today’s favourite Lambert at the seaside venue so just based on that fact alone, it makes little sense why he is chalked up three times the price of his old rival.

A typically wide open 6f handicap with many of the usual suspects in a race of the nature on show, but there is a decent chance that, UNIVERSALLY (best price 13/2), one of the newest acquisitions to these ranks, can forge himself a career for himself as a sprinter.

Campaigned mainly over middle distances when racing in France last season, the son of Acclamation showed the first sign that he might require less of a test when running well over a mile here two starts ago and he confirmed that impression with an excellent effort at The Curragh last time out on his first try over six-furlongs.

Drawn the widest of all and missing the break at the Co Kildare venue meant the four-year-old had plenty of ground to make up on the main players at the halfway stage, but with a sustained late rattle down the outside he came home fastest of all to finish a never-nearer third behind the two Johnny Levins-trained pair, The Organiser and Nordic Passage (Teddy Boy Well held).

On the evidence of his display seven days ago, the combination of blinkers and today’s trip might suit him best long term and providing his (high) draw doesn’t turn out to be a negative (there should be plenty of evidence based on the three previous races on the straight track), he is highly likely to be involved in the outcome.