Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Naturally, there will be plenty drawn to the claims of Peppay Le Pugh now taking a break from a long stint over fences, but the fact remains he’s maiden over hurdles after 15 starts and he’s up against a rival in the shape of COOLE WELL (NAP) (best price 7-4), who is toughness personified and has enough solid form in the bag to suggest he’s very much the one to beat.

An all-the-way winner of a useful maiden hurdle at Plumpton back in December, Jamie Snowden’s gelding went to Fontwell in his bid to shoulder his penalty and even though he came up just short of the mark, he ended up probably achieving more in defeat that in his previous victory. Setting a strong pace throughout, the son of Gold Well impressed by the way he stuck to his task resolutely despite being hassled for the lead and even though he ended up having to play second fiddle to On The Slopes, the time figure they posted indicated it was a fair race of its kind. Likely to be ridden in a similar vein here this afternoon, this big, galloping track should play into his strengths and if the track soaks up some of the recent rain in the area, the more his chance will increase.

There’s always a danger that there’s something useful lurking among the unraced brigade, but even so, they will still have to be fairly smart to cope with GETARIVER (best price 3-1) if she’s in a similar frame of mind that saw her score on her rules debut at Ludlow and, as a result, she gets the confident vote.

A point winner back in November, Dan Skelton’s mare was fitted with the tongue-tie for her opening gambit at the Shropshire venue two months alter and after travelling strongly throughout what was a well-run affair, she quickened up in the style of a useful recruit. The fact that she managed to defeat the males, including strongly-fancied Buck’s Bin who went a proper gallop from the start, suggests she’s well above-average and having the experience of two previous races will surely count for plenty when put under maximum pressure on today’s rain-softened ground.

Yuften looks a worthy favourite on his recent exploits and it would come as little surprise if were to justify his position in the market, however, the race for second appears a far more interesting proposition, betting-wise, and LILY’S PRINCE (best price 4-1) rates the value call in that particular exotic market. Although he’s been struggled to get his head in front for a while, the son of Strategic Prince has been shaping well in some pretty demanding sprint handicaps run at a fast pace and you only have to go back two starts to find a cracking effort on the figures. Having looked all over the winner two furlongs out that night, the nine-year-old found himself being mugged late on by the revitalised Lapillli in the first-time hood, but with the pair pulling five lengths clear of the rest in a quick time, the form rates solid in the context of today’s race. Moreover, he only got beat four lengths in another quality heat here again two weeks ago and it’s interesting to know that his last three-furlong split of 34.9 suggests he still probably ran up to something near his best form (Yuften 36.8 and Sharp Defence 37.5 on their latest start).

A win for HASSELNOTT (best price 7-1) here last week provided an instant return on investment for new connections and that shrewd purchase may have even more traction if he can run anywhere the numbers he knocked out on his return visit.

Having his first start for Anthony McCann, the Hellveyln gelding was up against two in-from rivals in the shape of Togoville and Aussie Valentine, but having travelled well throughout, he quickly left the pair for dead inside the final two furlongs. Looking at the numbers he posted that evening, they reveal he recorded easily his best set of figures at the track and providing the blinkers can work for the second time, it’s easy to see this in-form six-year-old running another huge race.