Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Opposition-wise, this represents a totally different examination to those TURNING GOLD (best price 9/4) has faced on his last two starts, but his time figure at Yarmouth on the most recent of those performances suggests he shouldn’t have too much trouble coping with the rise in class. Setting out to make all the running, just like he’d done previously at the seaside venue, Sir Mark Prescott’s inmate had his field at full stretch by halfway, and maintaining a relentless gallop all the way to the line, he ended up routing his field by eight lengths. Even though the ground was on the slow side of good that day, he still managed to go under the standard time for the 1m distance and based on that effort alone, it’s easy to see why the handicapper has tried to cover his tracks by raising him a whopping 19lb. Set to come here 11lb lower before the new mark kicks in, he should be hard to catch providing he jumps cleanly and bags that far side rail.

SHARP DEFENCE (best price 8-1) represents a team that are proving a real force with their raids on the Northern circuit and following his victory over today’s C&D last time out, Pat Shanahan’s inmate has a decent chance of adding his trainer’s already impressive tally. Unlucky in a competitive sprint handicap at Chester earlier in the season, the son of First Defence made up for that, and a disappointing show the time after, by winning with a bit to spare on his return visit to the Scottish venue last time out. Time figure-wise, he’s right up with the pick of this field on his very best form and even though the 3 box isn’t the stall connections would have chosen if it came down to a ballot, the three-year-old is drawn next to the likely pacesetter Dark Defence.

CAIRNSHILL (NAP) (best price 6-1) proved an instant hit on his first visit to tonight’s track last time out and with ground conditions once again in his favour (likely to be soft given weather forecast), another bold show looks on the cards. Waited with in the rear, the son of Tikkanen worked his way into contention going out on to the final circuit and staying on strongest of all in the last half mile, he pulled readily clear of a competitive field. Clearly better suited by those hold-up tactics than when trying to make all in a similar race the time before at Downpatrick, Mark McNiff’s grey looks highly liking to give his true running over the same C&D as 25 days ago.

Although DEFOE (best price 7-4) only scored by half-a-length in a handicap at York last time out, he left the impression he had a bit more in hand than the official margin suggested and he rates a strong choice to back up that theory on his first attempt in pattern company. Off the back of sound fractions on the Knavesmire 20 days ago, Roger Varian’s charge came through looking like he was going to score easily at the two pole, but it was more a case of him idling and saving a bit for himself rather than that was all he had to offer. Prior to that convincing display, this progressive three-year-old had rubber-stamped himself as a horse to keep on side with a similarly tenacious effort in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (form worked out well since) and providing there’s plenty of give underfoot this evening, the son of Dalakhani should give his main market rival, Call To Mind, all the trouble he can handle.

Following two sighters against stiff opposition on his first two outings over fences, BLACK ZAMBEZI (best price 5-1) has come into his own given a stiffer test of stamina around tonight’s tight, right-handed circuit. On his first visit to the Westmeath venue, Peter Fahey’s inmate stayed on strongly in the latter stages to draw clear of track specialist, Prince Garyantle, and in carbon-copy fashion, he duplicated that performance against more experienced opposition last time out. On both occasions, he’s suggested a step up to 3m could bring about even further improvement and this unexposed young chaser certainly has the game for a race of this nature based on his overall profile.

Although not as well handicapped as some, TULSA JACK (best price 14-1) has plenty of decent efforts around tonight’s unique venue tucked away under his belt and he should go well with conditions during the day set to turn quite nasty. Under similar conditions to those he’s likely to face this evening, Noel Meade’s charge powered his way to victory in this corresponding race last year and that went some way to underline his love affair for this track (F121). Arriving here off the back of a nice prep run at Killarney last time out, the son of Urban Queen should be just about at fever pitch in a bid to retain his crown.