Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

SPEREDEK (best price 13-2) began this campaign how he signed off the last one, with a devastating all-the-way success, and with connections choosing to come here under the penalty instead of contesting the more valuable handicap chase on the Saturday, that decision will hopefully bear fruit. Since adopting an aggressive front-running mantra and being dropped back to the minimum trip, Nigel Hawke’s inmate hasn’t looked back, and following three commanding performances over fences towards the backend of last season, the six-year-old rocketed up the handicap to a mark of 138. Starting out this campaign off a lower perch over hurdles, the son of Kapgarde exploited the apparent leniency with great panache and with his winning time figure indicating he’s just as affective over the smaller obstacles, he has a decent chance of running his rivals ragged with another display of relentless galloping.

Bambari got the job done in fair enough fashion when landing a competitive handicap over the C&D last time out, but the race in question was nowhere near as tough as the one AGGRESSION (best price 5-1) finished second in here last week and for that reason, Michael O’Callaghan’s inmate rates the percentage each-way call against the likely favourite. Even allowing for the fact the son of Marju – like most sprinters – is difficult to win with, his performance here seven days ago has to go down as a career-best and although you wouldn’t put your mortgage on him doing it again, it would be an exercise in totally stupidity to let him go unbacked. Slowly into to stride and last after a furlong, he found himself in an uncompromising position turning into the home straight, but in finishing off the last three furlongs in an astonishing 32.8 (not many have recorded a sectional better in recent times), he not only worked his way back into the contest, he just failed by the narrowest of margins to claim the prize close home. Analysing the runners his passed in the home straight such as hard-knocking regulars Togoville, Oneoveryou, Golden Pearl and My Good Brother puts into context the kind of effort it was by the five-year-old and providing his inexperienced pilot can get a decent tune out of his mount rather than hinder his progress, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t turn out to be a massive player at the business end.

Aidan O’Brien always seems to pull a rabbit out of the hat in these staying events most years at this venue (Sea Of Blue last winter) and CLEAR SKIES (NAP) (best price 7-2) appears to be this season’s rapid-improver from his Ballydoyle base. Although she’s yet to smash the ball out of the park on the figures, the daughter of Sea The Stars has left the impression on both of her last two wins that she’s had more in hand than the official winning margin has suggested and with that being the case, the four-year-old filly still makes plenty of appeal despite her creeping up the handicap.