Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

A big field but in truth probably not that many standout performers and it should provide SONG FOR SOMEONE (NAP) (best price 15-8) with the ideal opportunity to put his Cheltenham Festival credentials firmly in the shop window. Twice a winner on the Flat in France, the son of Medicean made a bright start to life in his new discipline when a close-up second to Elysees at Ludlow back in November and he followed that up with another sound effort by filling out the same position at Fakenham. Gelded after that run, Tom Symonds’ four-year-old was back in action a month later and his display at Newbury suggested he’d improved significantly for that operation. Jumped off in front, he set a decent gallop from the outset and with his slick jumping another key feature to his overall game, he ended up running out an impressive winner. Moreover, the time figure he posted was pretty good for a race of its kind and with the runner-up, Praeceps, going on to win easily next time out at Market Rasen, the form looks rock solid. An uncomplicated sort who seems to have a good attitude and an appetite for the winter game, the likeable chestnut is clearly at his happiest when allowed to bowl along and attack his hurdles at the head of affairs and with his main market rival, Flegmatic, not yet proven in a strongly-run environment (won slow run race on debut), the selection has a decent opportunity to set himself up for a likely tilt at the Fred Winter Handicap in a few weeks’ time.

FLEMCARA (best price 9-1) had a brief flirtation with fences which sadly didn’t garner too much joy, but he seemed much happier on his return to hurdles at Sandown the other day and he’s taken to build on that promising effort and make some sort of impact in this qualifier for the Pertemps Series Final Cheltenham in a few weeks.

Off the back of a 56-day break, the son of Flemensfirth held every chance on the run down to the second last at the Esher track, but from that point onwards he could only muster the one-pace and he had to settle for gallant third behind the easy winner, Lord Napier. A three-time winner last season, it’s worth noting one of those victories came over today’s course and even though in an ideal world he could do with the ground being a good deal softer, there should be sufficient ease underfoot in order for him to run up to a fair standard.

UMBRIGADO (best price 9-2) looks a really nice prospect in the making and he’s fancied to continue his progression in this intriguing novices’ hurdle. Runner-up in a point-to-point back in March last season, David Pipe’s gelding made a pleasing start to his life under rules when, despite running extremely green in the closing stages, he ran out a comfortable winner of a useful bumper at Uttoxeter in November. Quickly switched to hurdles, the son of Stowaway was well-backed to make a winning start to life in his new discipline and even though he showed his inexperience to the full in the latter stages, he still had far too much in the tank for his main market rival, Khage. With the pair pulling clear of the rest and the time figure suggesting it was a decent race of its kind, the five-year-old clearly ran to a decent standard 68 days ago and with the likelihood of even more to come from this exciting recruit, he rates a strong each-way choice at the morning prices.

Some potentially smart youngsters on show in the finale, none more so than GET IN THE QUEUE (best price 5-2) and he’s fancied to back up his opening success at Uttoxeter. Held up towards the rear at the Midland track, Harry Fry’s inmate looked as greenness might be getting the better of him as the field came out of the back straight, but once engaging top gear in the final half a mile, he stayed on to such an effect that he was able to come clear of his rivals to the tune of nine lengths. Clocking a smart speed figure into the bargain, the son of Mount Nelson proved that he has a useful engine to match his impressive frame and this contest will probably take a bit of winning, he has all the requisite skills to cope with the task at hand.

As there’s been no significant rain around for several weeks, it’s meant the surface here at Dundalk has ridden pretty dry and slow (quite a severe kickback) and those conditions seemed to have tipped the balance in favour of the bigger and stronger types who can grind out a result. Of those racing here tonight who have proven recent form under such conditions, CHAPARRAL DREAM (best price 7-4) appeared to appreciate the deeper terrain 14 days ago and he’s strongly fancied to follow up against similar opposition. A largely frustrating figure in the past, the son of High Chaparral was once again well-backed in his search to finally get off the mark and it w3as no more than his endeavours deserved that he managed to shake the monkey off his back. Seemingly with plenty on his plate coming out of the back straight, Ado McGuiness’ gelding came with a long withering late charge down the favoured centre of the track in the home straight to in the end win going away, and with the time figure pointing towards the performance being a pretty smart one by the four-year-old, it seems only right that he now runs off a 9lb higher mark. The fact that he’s in such good form and he has the ability to see out the trip, however, should enable him to offset that slight negative and unless one of his rivals does something they haven’t been able to do for quite some time, this should turn out to be a pretty straightforward exercise for this in-form stayer.