Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

CANARDIER (best price 11-4) is a pretty honourable type and this looks to be a decent opportunity for Dermot McLoughlin’s inmate to show UK punters what he’s made of. Off the mark at the fourth time of asking over hurdles at Down Royal back in May, the son of Crillon has managed to hit the frame on his next three starts and with his latest effort when third behind the useful pair, Woodland Opera and Peregrine Run reading well on paper, it’s easy to make the case that he brings the best form to the table on the evidence of that display. Indeed, had he not made a sloppy error at the last, he may have finished a good deal closer to the subsequent Grade 2 chase winner, and with the time figure good and his ability to see out a well-run 3m on a stiff track cemented, the rigours of today’s race over a slightly shorter trip should be absolutely spot on for this good-ground-loving six-year-old.

Perish the thought that this might be the final run for a handicap mark for MOTAWAJ (best price 11-2), but if he is allowed to run on his merits here this afternoon, he might just be capable of springing a bit of a surprise. Shaping well from a poor draw at Newmarket on debut, Roger Varian’s juvenile went on to run respectably in what turned out to be an extremely hot race on the speed figures at Yarmouth last time out, so much so, that the winner, Azano, has to be marked down as a potential pattern race performer. If that turns out to be the case, then the son of Dubawi didn’t run to badly back in sixth and with the likelihood of further improvement to come, it would come as no surprise to see him go close here today under similar conditions.

Lil Rockerfeller ran out an impressive winner on chase debut and should take all the beating if handling these stiffer fences, but the percentage call at the prices is to play the vastly-experienced PICKAMIX (best price 11-4) in the ‘without the favourite’ market. A useful, if not spectacular hurdler, rated 128 at his best, Charlie Mann’s gelding has certainly improved since he’s gone over the larger obstacles and although he’s only managed to register one victory in nine starts over fences, he’s been a very consistent performer since switching codes. Signing off the season with a deserved success in the first-time visor at Newton Abbot, the seven-year-old began this campaign with a promising effort at Warwick when he chased home the revitalised Vauriam and being as he looked like the run would do him the world of good that day, he certainly won’t lack for fitness here this afternoon. Moreover, he’s the only horse in today’s line-up with proven C&D form courtesy of his fine third in a competitive handicap at the Open Meeting last season, and this reliable grey rates just the type to exploit any fragilities his rivals might suffer over this demanding track.

GRACEFUL LADY (best price 7-1) has yet to win this season, but she’s run several admiral races in defeat and with the best of those performances coming last time out in a hot handicap at Nottingham, Robert Eddery’s mare certainly looks to have better prospects of snapping that hoodoo than the market suggests. Set with a fair task turning for home at the Midland track, the daughter of Sixties icon made relentless progress all the way down the straight and although she couldn’t land a meaningful blow at the main protagonists, she did keep on well to finish a creditable and never-nearer fourth. Although it’s only a small sample, the fact that Thomas Blossom (beaten 21 lengths) has managed to come out straight away and win next time out says a lot about the overall time figure and form, and having run well in this corresponding race last year when the ground was arguably a little too soft for her liking, the five-year-old has every chance of bettering her finishing position on this nicer surface.

BELLE BOYD (best price 17-2) and SURROUNDING (best price 13-2), third and fourth respectively in this race last year, both arriving here in good form twelve months on and are taken against the field.

The former hardly ever runs a bad race and even though she finished out of the money for the first time in eight career starts when only sixth of 10 runners at Killarney when last seen, Willie McCreery’s may have been suffering from the effects of two previous hard races. Renown for going well fresh and back on a surface she enjoys, the daughter of Oasis Dream is a must for any shortlist.

The latter only just scrapped home here last time out but she did have the steadier of 10st and it wasn’t as if those in behind her that night were any mugs either. Whether she truly gets the mile trip in top company remains to be seen, but either way, for a horse who’s got such a good record at the track, she’s hard to dismiss with any degree of confidence.

The extended five-furlong handicap won by Tide Of Time at Navan back in the middle part of the month has not only been advertised by the winner, but the likes of Dash D’Or, Amazing One and Handsome Maverick have all given the race in question the thumbs up, so with that in mind, both ART OF UNITY (5-1) and ART WORLD (best price 22-1) have to be of some sort of interest.

The former came out best of the pair with a creditable third-place finish and given that he came out best of those drawn in a double-figure draw that day, the three-year-old’s effort deserves upgrading. Filling out the same spot behind the aforementioned Dash D’Or back at the same track two days ago, and having gone well over tonight’s track on his two previous visits, Noel Meade’s charge makes plenty of appeal despite his slightly tricky draw.

The latter has gone 13 races without a win but considering the ground he forfeited racing away from the main action at the Co Meath venue, he deserves more than a second look here.