Newmarket Tips: Can Holberg keep on improving?

Newmarket July Festival / Alex Steedman / 07 July 2010 / Leave a Comment

Holberg comes home in front to win the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot 2009

"Holberg is shaping up to be a serious horse and an improving one at that. It's amazing to think it took him four attempts to lose the maiden tag and that he won his first handicap off just 75 but here he is on a run of five wins in six and still revving."

Alex Steedman makes the picks on the second day of the July Festival

Most reputable establishments maintain that management reserve the right to refuse admission but Spanish Moon, fancied in the Princess of Wales' Stakes at 15:10, seems to be particular about which equine hostelries he enters full stop.

Sir Michael Stoute's six-year-old hasn't been sighted on a British track since November 2008 having been banned from racing for that exclusive taste of his. But having turned his back on the homeland, Spanish Moon has been wined and dined in style abroad and has garnered some top-class, Group 1 form. Should he enter and leave the stalls and then reproduce either of his latest efforts in Hong Kong or Dubai, he will be difficult to beat.

Opposition includes the consistent Tazeez who posted a career best when chasing home Byword and subsequent Eclipse winner Twice Over at Royal Ascot last time. I wonder if being out in front slightly flattered him that day but his position on the pace may well influence the performance of the interesting Holberg.

Acquired by Godolphin from the Mark Johnston academy, Holberg is shaping up to be a serious horse and an improving one at that. It's amazing to think it took him four attempts to lose the maiden tag and that he won his first handicap off just 75 but here he is on a run of five wins in six and still revving.

His reappearance win in a Listed event at Goodwood was his debut for Godolphin, so it was encouraging to see the progress maintained but more that he was so effective at 12 furlongs. A Royal Ascot winner over two miles last season, Holberg is a strong, late bloomer -so typical of Halling progeny - and he has the added appeal of being able to lead or add to the pace when Tazeez has had enough. He will give Spanish Moon cause to consider that moody door policy.

Another go-forward performer on the day could be Harris Tweed in the opening 13:30. His swashbuckling win in the Musselburgh Gold Cup was extraordinary given that he raced up with a strong pace but ran away from the field and still smashed the course record by four seconds. He looks a slightly sharper model than Very Good Day at the moment though I wouldn't be surprised to see both prove Leger contenders later in the campaign. Harris Tweed has York's (Group 2) Great Voltigeur as a possible in August and this is the perfect stepping stone en route.

Finally, I've been following Fair Trade closely this season and he looks to have a chance of belatedly winning a decent prize in the 16:20. He went well enough at Royal Ascot despite running freely up in distance and can reverse the form with Critical Moment back at a mile. David Elsworth's charge ran respectably in the 2000 Guineas on just his third start and looks to have the stars aligned for him today.

Recommended Bets:
13:30 Harris Tweed, 3pts win @ [3.9] (0-10pts scale)
15:10 Holberg, 2pts win @ [3.75]
16:20 Fair Trade, 1pt win @ [4.8]