Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

TEA TIME ON MARS (best price 22-1) probably wouldn’t jump of the page for many, but he did run quite well in one of the hottest novice hurdles run so far this season and he has to be worth a small interest to see whether his opening handicap mark of 104 underplays his talents.

Having played no part in two previous novice events, Sue Gardner’s seven-year-old was understandably a 150-1 poke at Exeter last time out and although he eventually finished halfway down the field, he did more than enough to suggest he’s not a forlorn hope going forward. Up with the hot pace in the early stages, the son of Schiaparelli hung around until turning for home and considering he was up against smart novices such as Getaway Trump (second in the Challow Hurdle since) and Tedham (won Wincanton handicap) to name but two, it just shows what he was taking on at the West Country venue. Quite a keen-going sort, hopefully his regular pilot can restrain his mount accordingly this afternoon, and if so, there’s more than half a chance that this big, chasing type can outrun his morning odds.

BLACK BUBLE (best price 8-1) ran out a pretty ready winner in the end over today’s course last time out and with conditions almost identical and strong pace assured, Tony Carroll’s gelding is fancied to be a big player in the final reckoning. Having played up at the start at Warwick previously, obviously there was a few anxious moments down at the start when sent off favourite to make amends here 14 days, but as it turned out, he jumped off fine and was always in control of matters at hand. Staying on strongly in the latter stages, the Valanour gelding scored with more in hand than the official result suggests and he’s clearly a talented performer when he decides to play ball. Given his run-style and the way he finished off his race last time, today’s step up in trip should suit and with conditions set to be in his favour once again, a decent pace should ensure he creeks into the business end of the contest with every chance.

Stronghold ran perfectly respectably on his first outing since a gelding operation here last week and he looks bound to pull in the punters again, but there doesn’t appear to be too much juice in his price, so he’s passed over in favour of the every-consistent LADY DE VESCI (best price 6-1) at much more rewarding odds.

Yet o run a bad race this winter since upped in trip, Micky Halford’s mare has risen from a mark of 49 to her current perch of 70 and while it’s hard to make the argument for her improving any further, she looks guaranteed to run to that level here tonight. The daughter of Approve probably found herself too far back last time when staying on into fourth behind Park Row, but with a good inside draw and a smaller field in place this evening, it’s hard to envisage her being out of the money and she makes plenty of each-way appeal at 6-1.

A trappy concluding handicap, but both NISIOR DONN (best price 9-2) and PEDRO DE STYLES (best price 9-1) having done more than enough of late to warrant an interest at their respective prices.

The former arrives here in splendid form and although she failed in her bid to follow her previous C&D win, you’d be hard pressed to suggest she did much wrong. Once again slowly away, she made her usual burst between the two and the one only to find Gougane Barra finding a better turn of foot close home. Despite the likelihood of her giving away ground at the start again tonight, we know she has the gear change to work her way into the picture at the business end and it’s just a question of her getting the breaks at the right time.

The latter probably needs more explaining, but he did catch the eye here last time out and for that reason has to be a small each-way interest to see whether he can build on that promising effort. Towards the rear as the field turned for home, Tom O’Mara’s picked up quite nicely in the latter stages without being unduly punished and this unexposed four-year-old has the scope to progress and win at some stage off his current rating.