Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

GHOSTWATCH (best price 2-1) did very little wrong when racing here last time out and he rates a confident choice to get back on the winning trail.

A game winner of the hugely-competitive Melrose Handicap in a fast time at York two starts ago, Charlie Appleby’s gelding was understandably a warm order to repeat the dose over today’s course a month later and although he ultimately came unstuck up against a similar improver in the shape of First Eleven. There’s no doubt that the winner was the proverbial Group horse in a handicap. The fact that the son of Dubawi, in turn, pulled well clear of the rest suggested that he’d also run up to pattern race standard and he gets the chance to prove that he well and truly belongs in this sort of company, with the step back in trip likely to suit.

LAUGHTON (best price 3-1) probably isn’t one for maximum stakes or for those with a dodgy ticker, but he did run well enough here last time out to suggest he might just be capable of ending a long losing run.

Last victorious back in May 2016, Kevin Ryan’s gelding has cut a rather frustrating figure through the majority of the interim period and he latest effort when third in a similar race over tonight C&D, only further underlines his irritating tendencies. Walking out of the stalls at the Dunstall Park venue, the five-year-old consequently found himself with a mountain to climb by halfway and although he did his level best to work his way back into the picture in the closing stages, he couldn’t quite make up the lost leeway. The way he travelled through the contest, however, suggested with a level beginning he would have almost certainly obliged and now returning to the scene of that unlucky effort racing off the same mark, the son of Acclamation would have to do something rather stupid again not to be involved in the finish against this mob.

INVERLEIGH (best price 3-1) left the impression he wasn’t totally in love with the sharp nature of Fairyhouse last time out, but he stuck to his task stoically enough to suggest he’s worth another go now back on a more conventional track and with an extra furlong to gallop.

Impressive on his opening bow at Leopardstown when very much the second string of the Ger Lyons’ runners (Burmese Waltz 5-4 favourite), the son of Excelebration went into his latest outing at the Co Meath venue with plenty of confidence behind him, but as is often the case with many races at the track, the place to be was off the front and he just found himself stranded and in no man’s land when the pace picked up three furlongs from home. He did, however, stay on strongly all the way down the straight without ever looking like he was going to win, but with the time figure of both that heat and the one on debut suggesting he’s run to a pretty high standard, he may just have enough to lower the colours of the short-priced favourite, Old Glory, who only landed a very slowly-run race on his debut. No Needs Never, who bypasses the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy to come here, is also an interesting contender.

Using one small sample as a guide can be a dangerous exercise when assessing performances, but such was the manner of victory and time figure that GREAT BEYOND (NAP) (best price 2-1) posted when scoring over today’s C&D two starts ago, it’s easy to forgive Roger Charlton’s inmate after one bad run and stay loyal as he returns to the scene of that easy triumph. Making his all-weather debut, the son of Dansili clearly took extremely well to the Tapeta surface as he bounded to a seven-length success and with the winning speed figure also excellent for the grade, it’s hard to go against the strapping three-year-old in his bid to back up that victory.

SURROUNDING (best price 3-1) is very much the class act of this field and having run well on all three previous visits to tonight’s track, Micky Halford’s filly can brush aside top weight. Runner-up on debut here back in April 2017, the daughter of Lilbourne Lad has been pretty consistent throughout her 14-race career since, and her latest outing when a fast-finishing third in a red-hot handicap at Leopardstown pays testimony to her reliability. Doing best of those drawn in double-figures that day, the five-year-old filly came from some way back to only just get beat in a wild finish, and if you take that performance and add it on to the one which saw her finish a creditable fourth in a listed race over today’s course this time last year, it’s easy to see why she’s expected go well against her own sex.

NIMITZ (best price 4-1) didn’t always look the strongest of stayers, but now he’s conclusively proved that he gets the 1m 4f trip really well, the ever-consistent four-year-old is taken to continue his tremendous record at tonight’s track.

In decent form on the turf during the summer, Charles O’Brien’s gelding arrived here two weeks ago off the back of another solid effort behind Bit Of Banter in a competitive affair at Naas and nicely backed to go one place better, he duly got the job done in fairly convincing fashion. Held up at the back in usual fashion, the son of Casamento made rapid strides rounding the home turn to pick up the running with a sweeping move down the outside two out and although he reeled in by the fast-finishing Commander One, he left the impressive he was idling in front (Tom Madden never resorted to the whip). Likely to be ridden in a similar vein once again tonight, expect his late dived-bombing tactics to bring him right into the picture when it matters most.