Simon Holt takes Altyn Orda to land the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday and she's one of two bets for him on the Newmarket card.
Simon Holt's best bets
1.50 Newmarket
3.35 Newmarket
ALTYN ORDA was a surprise 25/1 winner of the Oh So Sharp Stakes last October, but can prove the performance was no fluke by taking the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on her reappearance over the same course and distance at Newmarket on Wednesday.
Roger Varian's filly played up and got loose before the start that day but then, despite running about under pressure in the closing stages, she staged an exciting late run to head Gavota in the last strides (Hikmaa fifth).
That form could prove solid as the runner-up had previously looked a little unlucky when third to Juliet Capulet and the re-opposing Nyaleti (Hikmaa fourth) in the Rockfel Stakes while Alyn Orda's previous second to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bye Bye Baby (pair clear) was also boosted by the winner's subsequent success at Navan followed by a third to stable-mate Kenya in a Group Three at Leopardstown (Dramatically fifth).
Clearly, Alyn Orda was not completely straightforward last season but, if she has matured over the winter, there could be further improvement to come.
On form, Nyaleti has a slight edge but she was a bit disappointing on her reappearance, admittedly over a mile and on the tapeta at Newcastle.
Mark Johnston's filly was very consistent last season but it remains to be seen if she has trained on. Stable-companion Threading looked very good when landing the Lowther Stakes at York last August but failed to build on that effort when only seventh behind Clemmie in the Cheveley Park Stakes in late September when Eirene finished one place ahead of her.
Two other possible improvers are Dramatically and Nawassi.
The former is not too far off Altyn Orda on a line through Bye Bye Baby but much depends on how far forward she is as, typically at this time of year, quite a few of Aidan O'Brien's runners look as though they will come on for a run.
Nawassi is a beautifully-bred Dubawi filly out of the 1000 Guineas third Maqaasid and from the family of Guineas winner Ghanaati.
John Gosden's charge blew out badly on her debut last season but then reappeared in the autumn to win a novice event over this course and distance. As it stands, that form doesn't appear good enough, but Nawassi has a great deal of potential and Gosden has won this four times including in the past two years with Nathra and Daban.
Earlier, AEOLUS could prove a decent each-way bet at double-figure odds in the opening Weatherbys General Stud Book Handicap.
Now a seven-year-old, Ed Walker's gelding doesn't find it easy to win nowadays but was second in last year's Stewards Cup and has run well at this meeting in the past finishing an unlucky third in the 2014 Free Handicap and a very close fourth to Magical Memory in the 2016 Abernant Stakes.
Aeolus has never run off a lower mark in handicap company and will enjoy the cut in the ground.
Eastern Impact is another who has run well here early season, though usually at the Guineas meeting, and also looks well handicapped having struggled a bit after his second to stable-mate Mr Lupton here last May. Historically, a quicker surface has suited him better.
The four-year-old Ekhtiyaar is likely to head the market after two Newmarket wins (on both courses) last season from just five outings.
Recommended bets
2pts win Altyn Orda in 3.35 Newmarket at 3/1 (general)
1pt e.w. Aeolus in 1.50 Newmarket at 14/1 (Sky Bet)
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Posted at 0950 17/04/18.