Saturday's Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

See The Fire sets the standard with her fine second in Group 1 company last time out but whether this race will suit her just as well is open to question and, in what could turn out to be a tactical affair suiting those on the sharp end, PHANTOM FLIGHT (best price 6-1) is fancied to take advantage. 

A first-time out winner for new connections at Newbury, it was noticeable that day how well he travelled when sitting on the shoulders of pace setting Alyanaabi and having readily put Owen Burrows’ inmate to the sword with a smart turn of foot inside the final two furlongs, it’s hard to see why he is a bigger price than his old rival for starters.

Upped in trip at Goodwood last time out, he went sweetly through to first mile or so, but on this occasion, he just didn’t quite see out the 1m4f against proven stayer Al Aasy and he had to settle for a minor role. 

Looking at the pace map for today’s contest it’s noticeable only Flight Plan has made the running before, so with the strong possibility Karl Burke’s inmate will push forward and set a reasonable tempo from stall 1, George Scott’s inmate can track the likely front runner into the straight and have first run on the dash to the line inside the final two furlongs.

Plenty open to any amount of improvement in this Group 3 for fillies’ but it may go the way of one of the more exposed runners in the shape of ROYALTY BAY (best price 4-1), who has proven soft ground form. 
Not quite good enough for the likes of Fairy Godmother and several other top-class fillies on fast ground in the Albany Stakes, Sean & John Quinn’s filly has since broken her duck in facile fashion at York and gone on to run a career high in a Group 3 at Deauville. 

Unsuited with the way French races often pan out that day, she kept on extremely well after being one of the first to come off the bridle and with the strong possibility of today’s race being more evenly run, she should stay on better than most on the rain-softened ground. 

Probably not the classiest renewal of the Ebor, so the perennial task of trying to spot the potential Group horse masquerading as a handicapper is maybe not necessary as pertinent. 

It’s easy to see why Epic Poet has been popular in the ante post markets, as he represents several strong form lines (Duke Of Edinburgh and John Smith’s) but on the balance of what has happened here so far this week, stall 16 could have been better for his chances. 

Just behind Epic Poet in one of those top-quality handicaps mentioned was ZIGGY (best price 18-1) and as his stall position in box 4 should allow him to save ground and gain some early cover, Harry Eustace’s likeable gelding can hopefully feature in the finish. 

Although he has yet to prove that he stays 1m6f, he didn’t run too badly on the only time he attempted the trip and having warmed up nicely or a tilt at this valuable prize with a game victory over today’s course last time, everything looks set fair for a bold show. 

As last year’s winner proved, horses with strong form from the National Hunt ranks can land this race and BURDETT ROAD (best price 10-1) wouldn’t be a shock winner by any means. One of last season’s top-class juveniles until the point when injury took over, James Owen’s inmate has just had the one run since and with that effort under a big weight at Ascot serving the purpose of putting him spot on for his long-term target, the track, trip and draw all point towards a positive performance. 

LITTLEBIGGIE (best price 7-1) has been a model of consistency throughout her relatively short career and following yet another commendable effort at Galway last time out, Ray Hackett’s mare looks poised to put in her usual solid shift. 

A mare that wears her heart on her sleeve, she once again attempted to see it out from the front at Ballybrit 20 days ago and if it wasn’t for the well-treated Flicker Of Hope, she would have walked away with her most notable prize so far to date. 

That said, it was still a run that earned her plenty of praise and with today’s slightly shorter trip and tighter course sure to play more into her strengths, the daughter of Ask has a decent chance of adding to her previous C&D victory back in May. 

MAGHLAAK (best price 11-2) ran a much more encouraging race at Ascot last time out and returning to the scene of some of his career best efforts, Charlie Hills’ gelding can reaffirm his liking for the slopes of the Sussex track. 

Victorious on his first start here as a three-year-old, the son of Muhaarar went on run well on his opening gambit in handicap company on his next visit the following season and following another break, he added to his tally in game success on his return to the fray back in May. 

Undone by the wide draw and how the race panned out in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, he stayed on well in a decent contest on his first try over 1m4f at Ascot last time out and with his favoured soft ground working its way back into the going description, the five-year-old is likely to be in his element more than most.