Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

EXECUTIVE DECISION (best price 13-2) may have huffed and puffed to a degree when winning at skimpy odds at Chepstow last time, but she still comes across as a thoroughly progressive filly and one that can handle herself with distinction in this higher grade. 

In the money in two of the biggest three-year-old sprint handicaps run during the early part of the campaign, Jamie Osbourne’s filly got her due reward for those endeavours when capturing a decent pot at Goodwood next time out and, as a result, she was a warm order to follow up at the Welsh venue in a weaker contest next time.

Up against many proven and more experienced older rivals 38 days ago, she was made to work harder than her position in the market suggested but she ultimately came through strong at the finish to get the better of subsequent winner Nordic Passage. 

On the evidence of that display and her previous one at the Sussex track, she shapes as though an extra furlong shouldn’t pose too many problems and with most of her best form all coming on soft ground, the combination of those two factors makes her a tempting proposition at the morning prices.

The sight of the returning Cachet adds plenty of spice and intrigue to this fillies’ contest, but she will have to be close to her best after a 457-day break to cope with NIGIRI (best price 7-2) who won in the style of a pattern race performer in the making at York last time out. 

A smooth winner on heavy ground at Haydock previously, Ralph Beckett’s inmate was not only upped in class on the Knavesmire last month, she also had to encounter a much quicker surface but, as it turned out, it didn’t make a jot of difference. 

Always travelling like she had an extra gear to call on than anything else, the daughter of Lope De Vega exhibited a smart turn of foot to surge clear of her 17 rivals and in doing so, she posted a useful speed figure – duplicating the one she clocked at the Merseyside venue. 

Still officially the lowest rated horse in today’s field despite that romp, she has the chance to prove she belongs at this level, and she deserves to be played accordingly. 

Of those at bigger odds, Irish raider CLOUNMACON (best price 16-1) deserves more than a second look based on some of her soft ground form on home soil and is worth a small interest at her double-figure quotes. 

A winner of a strong listed race at Naas two starts ago, Johnny Murtagh’s filly just found conditions a little quicker than ideal when back over the same C&D last time but with a step up it trip and conditions likely to prove more suitable here today, she could easily get a piece of the action late on.
 

SILVER GAZETTE (NAP) (best price 7-4) raised his game by a significant level at Tramore last time out and a repeat of a similar performance should prove good enough for Andrew Slattery’s gelding to get off the mark. 

Having his first start for new connections since leaving John Ryan, the six-year-old grey was pitched into quite a tough little contest for the grade at the Waterford venue a month ago but despite being up against several well-regarded types from powerful stables, he covered himself with distinction. 

Still bang there with every chance at the last, he only found the strong late surge of the Henry De Bromhead-trained Gentle And Kind too good on the run-in, but with the pair nicely clear of subsequent winner, Reverend Hubert, the form reads solid in the context of today’s race. 

Posting a good speed figure to boot, the son of Cloudings not only has the numbers pointing in his favour, but he also has course form to call on courtesy of a decent effort in a bumper at this meeting last season and the potential to be fully affective over his first attempt at this trip (three miles).