Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

ARDIMENTO (best price 12-1) shaped better than the bare form indicated on his debut at Kempton and he certainly showed enough to warrant a small each-way interest in a race no greater in quality. Stuck out on the wing in his coffin 13 box, Nicola Currie had no choice but to drop the son of Roderic O’Connor towards the back of the field in the early stages and as a result, he was still in last place rounding the home turn. He did, however, pick up in taking fashion down the straight to finish a creditable fifth at the line and given that the speed figure of the race was pretty useful one for a race of its kind, he’s clearly run beyond expectations at the first time of asking. Hailing from a yard that wouldn’t necessarily have their horses fully wound up for their debuts, this stoutly-bred three-year-old should be capable of a fair bit of improvement and his double-figure quotes make plenty of appeal.

WATERSMEET (best price 7-2) landed this race last year before going on to run a blinder in the All-Weather Marathon Championship over the same C&D and with there being decent chance he can row his own boat from the front at a tempo that suits, Mark Johnston’s evergreen grey can once again roll back the years.

A proper all-weather specialist nowadays, the eight-year-old has been plying his trade to a pretty high standard during this winter and his best performance came when he dictated matters to record a comfortable success at Kempton three starts ago. Although he ran well enough at Newcastle on his next outing, the fact that he’s never managed to score over that stiff track in four goes suggests the stiff track there will always find him out and as has often been the case in the past, he’s better served skipping around the tight bends at today’s venue. Although well beaten in the end on his latest outing at Wolverhampton, the time figure of the race suggested he was up against two improving sorts that were simply playing at a different level to what he’s normally use to, but now back at one of his old stomping grounds with no other confirmed front runner in the field, the son of Dansili can lead them a merry dance.

DANZ GIFT (best price 4-1) can be a little difficult to predict, but there’s no doubt that when he’s on song he’s a pretty hot property in this sort of grade and following a smooth success over tonight’s C&D last time out, Sheila Lavery’s enigmatic gelding looks primed to go well again.

On many times in the past, the son of Haatef has flattered to deceive, often travelling up well before not finding as much as anticipated off the bridle, but given a strongly run race like he got 44 days ago, he made you wonder what all the fuss is about. Finding a tremendous turn of foot inside the final two furlongs, the eight-year-old rattled home in an impressive 33.8 from the three-furlong pole and a repeat of those sort of numbers should ensure he’s competitive on his return to the Co Louth venue.

PAMPUSHKA (NAP) (best price 2-1) has run two perfectly respectable races over tonight’s course and she looks to have been given a golden opportunity to make it third time lucky in a race that lacks any great strength in depth.

A big eye-catcher on her debut over the C&D when she stayed on strongly in the latter stages after being slowly away, the daughter of So You Think was well-backed to go two places better a few weeks later, with the theory of the extra two furlongs likely to suit. As it panned out, she probably didn’t quite see out the trip as well as expected and having looked like the winner for nine tenths of the journey, she ended up just getting worried out the argument close home. A subsequent run in a very hot maiden hurdle at Leopardstown recently would have least served the purpose of keeping her ticking over since her last run here, and now dropping back to what should prove to be her ideal distance, it would come as a major surprise if she didn’t manage to turn the table around with Stranagone, who has looked a bit of a short runner in most of his seven defeats.

Quite a few of these arrive here in decent shape, including warm favourite Ken’s Sam’s, but they may all have to go some to prevent LILY’S PRINCE (best price 13-2) defying top weight and he rates one of the best bets on the card. Although the nine-year-old hasn’t won for a while, some of his better efforts in defeat have taken place at tonight’s venue and following an eye-catching display over the C&D last time out, that losing spell has every chance of being ended. Held up towards the rear 14 days ago, Garvan Donnelly’s gelding seemed to be travelling as well as anything as the field turned for home, but from that point onwards he spent the thick end of two furlongs screaming for racing room. Not getting any daylight until it was too late, the son of Strategic Prince predictably finished his race off with plenty left in the tank, so based on the assumption he would have gone very close to beating similar opposition to what he faces this evening, he rates a very tempting proposition at his top morning price.