Andy Holding hit the board with Heavy Metal at Meydan yesterday and he's got four for today.
1.25 Doncaster
The race won by Acting Lass at Hereford back in November has worked out well, so FARM THE ROCK (best price 14-1), fourth in that well-run contest, has to be of some interest on handicap debut off appears a workable mark. Although the winner that day got beat next time out, he did come up against a subsequent Grade 1 winner in the shape of Finian’s Oscar back at the same track, but with the likes of New Member and Lady Karina winning since, it’s safe to say it’s useful form. In keeping-on nicely into fourth that day, Katy Price’s inmate ran to a fair standard and having run well on good ground the time before, today’s decent surface and galloping track should suit.
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3.45 Taunton
Although YUR NEXT (NAP) (best price 13-8) failed in her bid to follow up her previous C&D success here, she actually ran to an even better level in defeat and she’s strongly fancied to get back on track returning to her happy hunting ground. Yet to be out of the first three in four starts at the West Country venue, Johnny Farrelly’s inmate covered the last circuit here 28 days ago only a second slower than the likes of The Unit and Coillte Lass, so it just shows the kind of form this mare is in right now and a similarly forceful ride from the front should get most of her rivals struggling from a long way out.
4.25 Doncaster
WENYERREADYFREDDIE (best price 15-8) shaped with plenty of promise on his hurdling debut in a hot maiden contest at Newbury and he looks primed to get off the mark at the third time of asking at a track where he’s already run to a fair standard. Runner-up in a bumper here last March, Nicky Henderson’s charge was quietly expected to go well on hurdles bow at the Berkshire venue 44 days and he didn’t disappoint by finishing a respectable third behind the smart High Bridge, who has gone on to boost the form with a cosy win subsequently. Not only has the winner gone on to endorse the credentials of that race, the well-beaten fifth, Golden Birthday has also scored since, so t’s pretty clear the son of Beneficial ran to a very high level first time off the shelf and with expected improvement to come now stepping up in trip, he can get the better of the battle with Brio Conti, who very much looks a work in progress.
6.30 Dundalk
A switch of yards seems to have worked wonders for RED AVENGER (best price 7-2) and his winning run shows no sign of abating on the evidence of his latest victory here two weeks ago and he’s very much worth keeping on side for the foreseeable future. Winner of his first two outings on the Polytrack surface, Damien English’s charge was opposed in the betting in his hat trick bid largely to do with the fact his old rival, Chestnut Fire, was perceived to be an unlucky loser behind him the time before and he had to overcome a poor draw in trap 10. However, neither of those two theories came to fruition as the son of War Front readily got the better of Micky Halford’s charge and a field of high-quality handicappers alike and now housed in a much more favourable box around the inside, it provides the perfect platform for Pat Smullen to stalk in the cat-bird seat behind stable mate Geological, before delivering his charge with a killer punch late on.
