Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

The race won by LITTLE QUEENIE (best price 20/1) here 29 days was noted for its strong overall speed figure and with the form working out accordingly since (second, third, fourth and seventh all run well next time), both her and JON RIGGINS (best price 16/1) can feature heavily in this similar heat.

The former arrives here on a proper upward curve and her victory at the Co Kildare venue was one of a progressive sprinter. The way she travelled through the race before putting it to bed with a smart turn of foot late on backed up that view and with a step up in trip not seen as any great hinderance, Paul Flynn’s grey has what it takes to surprise many of the big guns.

The latter certainly knows the time of day when it comes to races of this nature and following an eye-catching effort behind his old rival here two starts ago (stayed on strongly despite being positioned on the wrong side of the track), he made no mistake when stepping up to his optimum trip last time out.

Strong as he often is in the latter part of the race three weeks ago, Edward Lynam’s inmate gained stable bragging rights over Heavenly Power and with today’s likely sound pace seen as a solid foundation for him to build his challenge around, another positive display looks in the offing.

CATCH THE PADDY (best price 10/3) has thrown in the odd poor run here on the Knavesmire but overall, he has more positives vibes over the last two seasons and his effort over the C&D last time entitles him to go very close again if repeating a similar level of form.

After disappointing in the big three-year-old sprint won by Quinault over six furlongs back in June, a similarly below-par effort at Haydock forced connections to send him to the operating theatre to tinker with his wind and on the evidence of his latest exploits, the surgery looks to have worked.

Trying a mile for the first time, Kevin Ryan’s inmate loomed up to hold every chance at the furlong pole but despite staying on well all the way to the line, he just found one too good in the shape of Silver Sword. However, with the overall speed figure holding firm against many of the other races on the card, the son of No Nay Never went close to surpassing his previous best and with conditions very much in his favour on his return to his old stomping ground, he is likely to put up another bold bid.

As wide open a fillies Group 2 you will find, but there is a decent chance both LUMIERE ROCK (best price 7/1) and UNLESS (best price 13/2) will have a say in the outcome based on their overall profiles and course form.

The former has been a model of consistency at the very highest level this season and her latest instalment suggests she’s maintaining her form in commendable fashion. Setting out to make all the running at Deauville, it took every sinew of effort from Jannah Rose to overhaul Joseph O’Brien’s filly inside the final two furlongs and even at the line, she was coming back at the market leader to suggest she wasn’t finished.

Although that solid effort and three of her other runs have all come on soft ground, arguably her best performance this season came on a quick surface in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and with a run style that suggests she won’t be too far off the pace turning for home, her stamina and willingness to battle all the way to the end should see her give another solid account.

The latter has also laid her heart and soul on the line on more than one or two occasions so far this season but despite a heavy schedule, she seems to be taking her racing well.

A comfortable winner of a listed contest over today’s C&D two starts ago, she only found the smart older gelding Layfayette too strong for her close home on her return visit a week later but as the speed figure indicated that day, Aidan O’Brien’s filly took her game to a whole new level.

Drawn favourably in stall one on her return to the Co Kildare track, the daughter of Justify looks sure to be ridden positively to hold her position around the inside and as it can be very difficult to make up ground from the back of the field at this track, particularly on fast ground, she could be difficult to overhaul at the head of affairs.

Ylang Ylang has been the subject of plenty column inches since stepping foot on a racecourse but whether her overall form/speed figures quite add up to her being an odds-on poke against what looks a stellar field is very much open to question. Of those who have created an equally favourable impression, VESPERTILIO (best price 5/1) and RED VIBURNUM (best price 9/1) appear to be seriously underestimated and, as a result, deserve to be played accordingly.

The former has a bit of ground to make up against her old rival based on their clash at Leopadstown back in July but on the evidence of her improved performance over today’s C&D next time, she might be able to bridge the gap. The way she travelled before disposing of her rivals with the minimum of fuss 22 days ago was one of a potentially top-class filly in the making and with her likely to be given a similarly patient ride, the daughter of Night Thunder can prove that she deserves to be less than five times the price of her old rival.

The latter is one of the least experienced of the party, but she is also open to the most amount of improvement and she may just turn out to be the surprise package of the race.

Strongly fancied to make a winning debut here 29 days ago, she just failed to land the gamble through lack of greenness, but at the same time, she did more than enough to suggest those who supported her were spot on with their assessments.

The way she hit the line suggested she would have won with a little more knowhow and hailing from a handler who never over faces his horse unless he thinks they belong at this level, Dermot Weld’s inmate has a reasonable chance of following in the footsteps of Tahiiyra who took this contest last season via a placed effort in a maiden.