Andy Holding's Friday Horse Racing Tips

The form of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival is generally strong and this season’s renewal is represented here in the shape of THOMAS CAMPBELL (best price 9-1). Quietly fancied in some corners 21 days ago, Nicky Henderson’s inmate didn’t let his supporters down with a cracking effort to finish fifth and given how strong he was in the latter stages of the race, the experiment of stepping him up to 2m 4f clearly worked. From a stable still in cracking form, a positive display is expected from the son of Yeats – especially as he’s now proven himself in a big field.

There has to be some doubts surrounding Moon Racer given he was pulled up abruptly in the Champion Hurdle, so the safest way to approach this race is to look towards MOUNT MEWS (best price 11-4) from a yard that had a winner and an unlucky second here yesterday. Malcolm Jefferson’s inmate proved himself outside of ordinary novice company with a smooth Grade 2 victory at Kelso last time out and arriving here fresher than most having avoided Cheltenham, he should fly the flag for the North with aplomb.

A sound jumping technique and being able to lay up with the speed are usually the key components to success in this one-lap event over the National fences and although there are many that fit that criteria, MR DIABLO (best price 22-1) and KATNAP (best price 28-1) are chosen out of the list of possibilities on value grounds. The former, probably not a horse most UK will be too familiar with, arrives here off the back of a fine winning effort at Leopardstown a month ago and with the feature of his performance that day being his overall exuberance and spring-heeled jumping, these fences should bring out the best in John Dempsey’s inmate. Furthermore, he ran a blinder in a competitive handicap at Punchestown last season when he had in behind him that day the likes of Lord Scoundrel (Galway Plate winner) and Marinero (chased home Thistlecrack at Cheltenham this season) and, as he likes to race up with the speed, the son of Presenting has many of the attributes associated with this race. The latter, formerly a frustrating character when trained by Sue Bramall, looks to have turned the corner since joining more powerful connections and he, also, has to come into the mix on the pick of his form on home soil. A horse with a high cruising speed, the better ground really suited Joseph O’Brien’s charge when he recorded a resounding success at Leopardstown two starts ago and although he failed in his bid to follow up at Wexford last time out, he led his rivals a merry dance until running out of steam on the bottomless ground late on. Of the rest, the form of the Brown Advisory Handicap at Cheltenham looks strong so both Bouvreuil and Henryville have to come into the equation. The former has been called one or two rude names over the years, but he’s got plenty of talent and if he takes to these fences, he could easily take a hand, while the latter has his optimum conditions to show his best form.

Claimintakinforgan ran an absolute blinder in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and that went a long way to advertise the form of his previous outing behind BLACK OP (NAP) (best price 7-2) on Town Moor. Impressing by the way he travelled off the back of very strong fractions that day, Tom George’s inmate looked a horse of some promise the way he disposed of more experienced rivals and having already proven he can cope with a sound gallop on decent ground, this examination should be well within his capabilities.

Given how strong REPARE MON (best price 3-1) was in the latter stages of her 1m 4f victory here last week, there’s enough evidence to suggest she will relish tonight’s extra four furlongs. A real improver in handicap company since connections have stepped her up in trip, the daughter of Big Bad Bob did amazingly well to come from so far back here last week and given that most of her rivals don’t possess a turn of foot, that potent weapon may turn out to be the key component in her follow-up bid.

Apart from one inexplicably poor at Down Royal back in January, CAPTURE THE DRAMA (best price 15-2) has enjoyed a really fruitful winter and heading back to a track where he’s unbeaten in two starts, Aengus King’s inmate is fancied to take another turn in the winner’s enclosure. His first course victory came courtesy of an all-the-way display in the early part of the campaign and following many consistent efforts in between, he posted his second success despite dropping back a full mile in trip two starts ago. Not being allowed to dominate meant he never really fired on all cylinders at Limerick last time out but there’s a good chance he will have his own way up front back over his optimum distance and he’s a nice price considering the list of positives in his direction.