Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

Chelsea Cloisters represents a team who clearly know what it takes to ready one for this prestigious fillies’ prize (won it with the likes of Jealous Again, Acapulco and Lady Aurelia) and having looked very sharp in all aspects of her game when making a winning debut at Keenland, Wesley Ward’s inmate could easily prove a cut above the opposition.

Away from the favourite and most likely winner, SHADES OF BLUE (best price 9-2) impressed by the turn of foot she displayed when winning over today’s C&D on debut and with many of those she beat that day going on to advertise the form, she could go close to emulating stable mate, Heartache, who landed this contest last season for the Cox team.

No doubt Adam Kirby will be keen to drop her in and get some early cover from her stall 22 draw but providing he can execute those tactics and preserve her powerful kick for the finish, there’s every chance she will have a big say in the finish.

Away from those at the front end of the market, RED BALLOONS (best price 66-1) appeals as one who could easily figure at a big price and although she comes here still a maiden, that wouldn’t have been the case with any amount of luck in running at Musselburgh last time out.

Having shaped well in a hot contest at Thirsk on debut, Richard Fahey’s filly was strongly fancied to score on the second time of asking at the Scottish track and if it wasn’t for being virtually slam-dunked over the rail twice inside the final two furlongs she would have almost certainly have prevailed. Although she will have to improve again to figure and has a tricky low draw to overcome, her morning odds are as such that she’s worth a shy at the stumps at a massive price.

Aidan O’Brien had a fairly quiet start to the meeting by his standards, but sending three strong contenders to post here, there’s every chance the Ballydoyle handler will finally get one on the board for the week. Of the trio, Ryan Moore has chosen Kew Gardens perhaps because of his Lingfield Derby trial form, but it may turn out that both he and stable jockey Donnacha O’Brien have both missed a trick by not siding with SOUTHERN FRANCE (best price 11-2) who has the sort of profile in-keeping with previous winners of this race.

Unraced at two, the son of Galileo has quickly made up for lost time and following a promising beginning when second on debut at Navan, he’s made a lasting impression with his two subsequent victories. On the most recent of those two performances, the lightly-raced colt showed admiral battling qualities to fend off the persistent challenge of Draper’s Guild back at the Co Meath venue, and with both sets of speed figures he’s posted suggesting he’s not short of speed as well as stamina, this likeable sort will relish the demands of this test more than most.

Since four-year-olds filled out the first six places home in both 2016 and 2017, that generation seems a decent starting point for this traditional cavalry charge and both BLESS HIM (best price 22-1) and SALTONSTALL (best price 12-1) appear to have first-rate credentials for a race of this nature.

The other possible angle into this straight-mile event is the pace looks to be very strong with the low numbers courtesy of front-running pair, Love Dreams and Zhui Feng drawn next to each other in stalls 1 and 2 and that should set things nicely up for both selections housed in boxes 3 and 10 respectively.

The former was hugely impressive when capturing the Britannia Handicap over this C&D last year and he looks to have been specifically saved for this contest based on his lightly-raced campaign thereafter. Only seen out once so far this season, David Simcock’s gelding trailed in a disappointing last of six in a conditions race at Nottingham last month, but as the ground would have been totally suitable, he finishing position shouldn’t be taken at face value.

As witnessed here last year, the son of Sea The Stars is seen to best effect when dropped right out and allowed to come through off a strong pace over a straight mile on fast ground and with all those familiar factors all in place again twelve months on, it could well be déjà vu for this talented four-year-old.

The latter has yet to step foot on the hollowed Berkshire turf but neither had stable mate Portage before he claimed this valuable pot two years ago. Similar to that previous winner, Michael Halford’s charge used a victory at the Curragh as a stepping stone towards his preparations for the Royal meeting and the way he landed his latest success at the Co Kildare venue 24 days ago, suggests the Pivotal gelding will arrive here in the peak of his powers.

Other to mention are Settle For Bay who has plenty of size and scope and could still be on the improve and for those keen on sticking with the Victoria Cup form angle for this race, both Burnt Sugar and Raising Sand ran well enough in that contest 39 days ago down the unfavoured middle part of the track to suggest they could figure prominently back here over a mile.

Without doubt the two strongest pieces of form and on the speed figures over the seven-furlong trip so far this season are the races won by JAMES GARFIELD (best price 16-1) at Newbury and SOCIETY POWER (best price 12-1) at Goodwood and they are both worth taking against the field in a wide-open looking Jersey Stakes.

The former enjoyed a fruitful campaign as a juvenile and he carried his smart form over from last season by capturing the Greenham Stakes in a useful time at the Berkshire track on his opening salvo back in May. Sportingly, sent to tackle the 2000 Guineas on his next start, George Scott's colt didn't quite see out the trip at HQ and that prompted connections to have a change of heart and bring him back to try his hand at sprinting again.

Outpaced behind two live contenders for the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs at Haydock on his latest start, the seven-furlong trip over this stiff course should prove to be the son of Exceed And Excel's optimum conditions based on his last two performances and being drawn well next to the speed towards the nearside (Another Batt and Lake Volta likely to go forward) should help him get plenty of cover early before being delivered late.

The latter turned a good draw into a bad draw by being slowly away and hampered in the early stages of his latest encounter, so to come from as far back as he did to end up beating a very smart field of largely unexposed three-year-old was a huge feather in his cap and says a lot about his natural ability.

Moreover, the time figure he posted in victory was a very smart one, and with the likes of Maverick Officer and Bambino Lola going on to advertise the form subsequently, it's pretty clear William Haggas' inmate ran to a fair level at the Sussex venue.

Unbeaten on his last five starts and 4-4 over the specialist trip of seven furlongs, the son of Society Rock looks tailor made for the rigours of this race and he's taken to confirm form with his old rival Emaraaty and continue his progression.

Although there has to be a small issue over the drop back in trip here for COOLFIGHTER (best price 17-2), the fact that he arrives here in such good form and is a bigger enough price is enough to offset that slight negative. A winner in a very fast time for the grade over 2m 5f at Tramore two starts ago, the 10-year-old lost little in defeat when bidding to repeat the dose at Clonmel last time out and in a race where there appears to be an abundant of early pace, his high cruising speed and ability to see out the trip will hopefully count for plenty.

BAKERS STREET (NAP) (best price 6-1) was desperately unlucky to get kicked out in the steward’s room over today’s course last time out and he’s strongly fancied to make amends on his return visit to the Newton Road venue.

Having his first outing for 195 days, Paul Power’s gelding responded really well to the first-time tongue-tie/blinker combination and despite seemingly winning fair and square 28 days ago, the powers that be decided that a small bit of interference on the run-in was enough to award the race to Dark Outsider.

The feature of that race a month ago, however, was the strong pace throughout which resulted in a very fast speed figure for the grade and having run well on his only previous outing over 2m 4f over hurdles, there’s a good chance he can improve again now stepping up in trip.

Plenty in here with obvious chances, but one that may have escaped the attentions of the bookmakers is GEORGE DRYDEN (best price 16-1) and he’s worth a small each-way interest to prove just how unlucky he was at Epsom last time out. Breaking reasonably well to hold a mid-field sit rounding Tattenham Corner, Charlie Wallis’ grey gelding was then subjected to a horrendous piece of interference which carried him out into the middle of the track, thus forfeiting a huge amount of momentum and ground to the rest of the field.

Although he could never land a meaningful blow at the main pack from that point onwards, it was noticeable that of those that were similarly manhandled rounding the home bend by the wayward Brian The Snail, the son of Zebedee came out clear best in the final analysis and having run well on his previous visit to tonight’s track over a trip short of his best, a return to six furlongs and a nice low draw should see the six-year-old easily outrun his odds.