Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

REGAL REALITY (best price 7/1) maybe the oldest swinger in town in this Group 3 contest, but he still appears to be thriving on his work and following another tremendous effort at this level at Salisbury last time out, there is no reason to believe Sir Michael Stoute’s veteran will do anything other than run his usual solid race.

Up against two improvers at the Wiltshire venue in the shape Of Mighty Ulysees and Embesto, it would have been easy for the eight-year-old to fold like a pack of cards once the big two in the betting forged clear but to his great credit, he rallied to the cause inside the final furlong to only go down by half a length.

A game winner of a similar contest at Sandown previously, Light Infantry aside, he faces a bunch of opponents his overall form levels and speed figures suggest he should be able to handle comfortably.

As is often the case, many of the usual suspects are set to join battle again over this stiff seven-furlongs and of those with strong recent form, MOBASHR (best price 17/2) and STAR OF ORION (best price 8/1) make the most appeal at the morning odds.

The former hasn’t quite had the rub of the green on several occasions in recent times, but with the set up of today’s race likely to play out in his favour, a return to a track where he has gone well in the past can see Michael Appleby’s gelding right in the thick of the action late on.

Failing to see out a well-run mile at Windsor two starts ago, the five-year-old would have surely captured a competitive leg of the racing league at Newcastle last time out with a clear run dropping back down to his optimum trip and having also not enjoyed the best of passages on his only visit to today’s venue earlier in the campaign, he deserves a change of luck.

The latter has been a regular in these sorts of events over the last few seasons and although he has yet to win at the Berkshire, he has gone close on more than one occasion. Indeed, his latest effort when third behind Baradar two starts ago suggests he is not far off the horse he was back in 2021 (rated 102 at his peak) and with conditions to suit, another positive display looks on the cards.

Another cracking renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes and with genuine cases to be made for most of the field, it will no doubt be decided by small margins. However, if there is one who could still be open to a significant amount of improvement it’s ALFLAILA (best price 5/1) and he is taken to back up that view on his first start at this level.

Off the track for 294 days after suffering a setback while out in Bahrain, it would have been easy to forgive him if he came up a little short against fitter rivals on the Knavesmire two months ago, but to his great credit, he managed to come through one of his toughest tests so far to date with flying colours.

As per usual, the son of Dark Angel was held up at the rear with a view to pouncing late and, as he has done so many times in the past, he exhibited a smart turn of foot to gun down his rival’s close home. Considering he was relatively easy to back on the day, it is safe to assume he will come on significantly for that initial outing and it must be significant that connections decided to bypass York in favour of saving him specifically for this prize.

Although not proven in Group 1 company yet, his numbers suggest he not a million miles off this level and hailing from a stable who have the habit of gradually progressing a horse of this nature to the very top – like Hukum and Anmaat - the four-year-old can prove to be the joker in the pack with any normal amount of luck in running.

Shaquille has been by far and away the standout sprinter so far this season and even though he has his obvious quirks, it would come as little surprise to maintain his unbeaten run. However, he is now the sort of price where there is little margin for error so the safest approach might be to look elsewhere for some each-way value against him and both REGIONAL (best price 10/1) and SAINT LAWRENCE (best price 14/1) have strong enough at Group 1 level to warrant small interests at their respective odds.

The former has transformed himself from a high-class sprint handicapper to a genuine contender at this level and his effort in the Nunthorpe at York last time out confirmed that view. A little outpaced at halfway on the Knavesmire, Ed Bethel’s inmate impressed with the way he saw out his race inside the final furlong and on the evidence witnessed that day, a return to six furlongs might not be a bad option.

A ready winner over the minimum trip here back in June which made him 2-2 at today’s track, the son of Territories thoroughly deserves another crack at Group 1 glory.

The latter has a similar profile in the sense he arrives here via top-class handicaps but as we have seen many times in the past, there isn’t a great deal – certainly based on speed figures – between the two categories. His victory in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot was followed up with a tremendous effort in the Group 1 Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville a month ago and if it wasn’t for getting a far from trouble free passage throughout, he might have come away with top honours.

Based on that performance alone, he also is worth a shot at this similar contest and with fast ground more in his favour than what he encountered in France, Archie Watson’s gelding is fancied to outrun his odds.

GLENGEEVER (NAP) (best price 4/1) ran well for a horse seemingly out of his depth over today’s course last week and if he can piece together a similar level of performance on his return to the Midland venue, Ben Lund’s gelding has an obvious chance of being slightly more competitive against weaker opposition.

Sent off the outsider of four against a trio of improving types from more powerful stables, the son of Scorpion was always at full throttle to keep in touch with the pace, but to his great credit, he stuck to his task manfully in the final half a mile and to only get beaten 11 lengths by the likes of Latino Fling and Gold Link, both genuine 120-rated horses, was a fair effort under the circumstances.

Moreover, his final circuit time worked out five seconds quicker than the two-mile handicap chase ran on the same card, which highlights how well he ran, and providing the blinkers work the oracle for the second time, the seven-year-old must be a player.

DUNUM (best price 7/1) has soon established himself as one of the better-quality handicappers between 7f and a mile on home soil and with his latest effort going a long way to confirm that view, Natalia Lupini’s gelding can continue his upward trajectory.

Other than one poor display in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, the five-year-old has been a model of consistency in many premier handicaps and following a near miss in the BWM Mile at the Galway Festival back in July, he gained his just rewards on the final day of the meeting in the Ahonoora Handicap.

Despite being potentially hindered by a bad draw (stall 17 of 19), the son of Ivawood broke well to race handy just in behind the leaders and once asked to go and win his race rounding the home turn, he showed a bright turn of foot to seal the deal in a matter of strides.

Idling close home, he left the impression there was plenty left in the tank if required and with today’s contest likely to be run at the sort of gallop that plays into his hands, it would be a surprise if he didn’t have a huge say in the outcome.