Andy Holding's Friday Horse Racing Tips

FLANAGANS FIELD (NAP) (best price 11-8) impressed both visually and on the clock when defying a two-year absence at Ffos Las 12 days ago and arriving here having escaped a penalty for that wide-margin success, it looks a simply case of whether he’s capable of running to a similar level second time around. Sent to the front at an early stage at the Welsh venue, Bernard Llewellyn’s inmate ran his rivals ragged over the last mile of the contest and in clocking fractions that were significantly better than the other three hurdle races on the card – all of which contained horses in the 120+ bracket – it’s clear that the son of Araafa is capable of running way beyond his current rating while in this sort of form.

Most of these know each other on first name terms, so there’s not a great deal to separate some of the big players at the top end of the market, but ISHEBAYORGREY (best price 9-2) is probably just about the most reliable performer among them and he looks destined to give his true running once again. A four-time C&D winner, Pat Martin’s charge has held his form together well since landing a similar prize to this back in December and his latest effort when a close-up third to the massively-improved Shannon Soul can be backed up by the speed figure of the race and the subsequent performance of fifth-placed Ducky Mallon at Naas on Sunday. Likely to get his favoured strong pace to shoot at courtesy of Tribal Path and Pearl Spectre being in the line-up, the son of Clodovil rates a cast-iron each-way bet at the morning prices. The ever-consistent and tough Split The Atom, who narrowly finished ahead of the main selection 15 days ago, has to come into the reckoning based on his overall form and long list of top quality speed figures in these type of events.

Strategic Heights is holding his form together nicely so has to be of some interest being housed in a much better stall than last week, while Secret Path, another C&D winner in the line-up, had the misfortune to bump into the useful Arbourfield on his latest start. However, the one that makes the most appeal is ATLAS (best price 6-1) who caught the eye running on nicely in a strongly-run affair behind Geological last time out. Having only his second start since moving to new connections, he did well to finish as close up as he did following his tardy start, and with Pat Smullen an eye-catching booking, Denis Hogan’s inmate makes plenty of appeal.

BITTERN (best price 7-1) got the kind of ride here last week that had most armchair punters who supported her beating their heads on the desk in exasperation but she, or rather Robbie Downey, is given another chance to make amends. Held up out the back door off tepid fractions, Emmet Mullins’ inmate unfortunately never got going until the race was effectively over and she ended up finishing a never-nearer fifth. The form of the race has taken an instant boost with the well-beaten Society Ranger scoring at Wolverhampton yesterday and being housed in a stall which will hopefully induce a much more positive ride, the New Approach mare makes plenty of appeal back over her optimum distance.

***Added to the service at no extra cost (£30 per month) and available from Saturday onwards, all UK Flat speed figures to coincide with the start of the turf season. For full access, along with both UK and Irish jumps ratings, go to andyholdingspeedfigures.co.uk***