Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

ROUNDHAY PARK (best price 6-1) posted an impressive set of figures for a two-year-old last time out at Bath and he’s taken to prove equally effective over an extra furlong. Off the back of sound fractions at the Somerset track, Nigel Tinkler’s inmate impressed by the way he had little trouble coping with the fast pace and in quickening right away from his rivals in the closing stages, he left the impression there was even more under the bonnet if required. Moreover, his final split times were a good deal better than the older horse handicap won by Our Lord and with the likes of Maygold and Big Time Maybe both going on to advertise the form subsequently, a rise of just 7lb shouldn’t be enough to prevent the son of Mayson from being hugely competitive here this afternoon. 

Although it was very early on in the season, HERE AND NOW (best price 12-1) arguably has the best singular piece of form on offer having accounted for Goodwood Cup hero Stradivarius at Chester in May and arriving here off the back of a tremendous effort in the Melrose Handicap at York, his solid credentials are there for all to see. A winner on merit at the Chester Cup meeting, Ralph Beckett’s inmate was shade disappointing on his next two visits to the Roodee, so it was good to see him back on track last time out when a creditable third in what is always one of the best three-year-old staying handicaps of the season. Indeed, the son of Dansili looked like capturing the prize when he drew alongside the leaders approaching the furlong, but he probably didn’t quite see out the 1m 6f journey in what turned out to be a very strong speed figure. Back two furlongs to his optimum trip on ground that will suit, a big run look immanent. 

SHEISDIESEL (NAP) (best price 6-1) ran a great race to be a third from a bad draw here last time and is fancied to keep her smart course stats intact on her return visit 10 days on. In what turned out to be a strongly-run affair, the daughter of harbour Watch managed to get into a reasonable position turning for home, but just as the tempo increased two out, she got temporarily short of room at a crucial stage. Once out in the clear she stayed on to good effect to suggest she would have gone close with a clear run and now housed in a much better stall this evening, Noel Meade’s charge gets a chance to make amends over her optimum trip.

SANTA MONICA (best price 6-1) did really well to finish as close up as she did here last time and that performance sets her up nicely for a tilt at a similar prize two weeks on. Dropped out from her wide draw, Aidan O’Brien’s charge had to sit and suffer at the tail of the field until the runners turned for home, but making ground up hand over fist in the straight, she somehow managed to haul herself into a creditable fourth at the line. Not only was her overall time figure good, her individual splits compared to the rest of the field read well and having now run really well on this surface twice (won her maiden over the C&D back in 2016), the daughter of Mastercraftsman looks booked for another positive display from a much more favourable draw.