Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

HAPPY DIVA (best price 5-4) is by some way the smoothest traveller of the main three in the betting and with that high cruising speed she’s exhibited on many occasions finally converted into a win last time out, Kerry Lee’s mare is fancied to carry on her progression over fences. Given her talent, she probably should have won more than she has, but there have been plenty of times when she’s just been plain and simply outpointed by a stronger stayer and they’ve often occurred when she’s been asked to race over 3m. Back over her optimum trip at Ludlow last time, the daughter of King’s Theatre was always travelling like the winner and only having to be nudged out in the closing stages, she gained her just deserts for many fine placed efforts. From a form perspective, it was good to see the runner-up that day, Midnight Target given the race at the Shropshire track a shot in the arm with a victory of her own yesterday and with The Nipper and Ron’s Dream likely to set off at a decent tempo, the seven-year-old should get a lovely tow into the contest before being produced with her winning challenge.

Without doubt, Ok Corral is the nicest horse in this field with the most scope, but the combination of being well found in the market and unproven over this sort of trip just tempers enthusiasm at the prices. RUN TO MILAN (best price 7-1), on the other hand, has already showed that a test of stamina holds no fears for him with a tenacious display at Exeter last time out and that was off the back of a previous effort which saw him finish second in a race at Exeter which is working out well. Lightly-raced and open to further improvement, Victor Dartnell’s inmate rates the percentage each-way call.

WAR HERO (NAP) (best price 5-4) has done extremely well to hold together a decent level of consistent form given that he’s been posted out in the car park on each time he’s shipped up at this track and with only one notable opponent to beat here this evening, Paddy Prendergast’s inmate is confidently expected to gain his just rewards over his ideal trip. A game winner over 6f four starts ago, stall positions of 13 of 13, 11 of 12 and 10 of 10 could have seriously compromised his performances subsequently, but to his ultimate credit, he’s just rolled his sleeves up and got on with the job at hand to really good effect. Even his effort here last week, which came over a stamina-sapping mile, didn’t prevent him from running another big race and this son of Declaration Of War will hopefully be given an aggressive ride to try and draw the sting out of Boragh Steps, whose best form to date has come over significantly shorter trips.

Pari Passu did extremely well to defy the coffin box 14 stall when winning with a bit to spare here last week and he looks to have obviously-looking claims now posted in the favoured inside rail position, but STORMY RYKER (best price 7-1) also ran well here last week in a much better race (the likes of Togoville, Beach Bar and Geological had been plying their trade in 0-90 events all winter) and he offers some value further down the lists. Arriving here a week ago off the back of a 112-day break, Michael Halford’s inmate was a little ring-rusty in the early stages and, as a result, found himself with plenty to do at halfway. Finishing his race off quite strongly, however, the son of Proud Citizen caught the eye with a powerful late surge to occupy a never-nearer fifth place at the line and with the time figure of the race by a mile the best on the eight-race card, it was clearly a fine effort by the four-year-old given his length of time off the track. Indeed, if you compare his sectionals from the 6f and 3f points of 1.10.4 and 35.2 to the those of Pari Passu’s of 1.12.9 and 36.6, he clearly has a much better prospects than his position in the market suggests based on those findings. Drawn not too far away from his main market rival, hopefully he can break a little cleaner in the first-time hood and providing he’s within shouting distance of the leaders turning for home, he has a decent chance of running them down late on.