Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Ask Susan is bound to be popular given how the Willie Mullins team have been cleaning up all week and how well she ran on her stable debut over hurdles last time out, but preference at the morning prices goes in favour of TIMEFORWEST (NAP) (best price 15-2) who also represents a yard not to be underestimated when it comes to these big festivals.

Formerly with Jonjo O’Neill when trained in the UK, the daughter of Westerner has continued her progression since joining new connections and her latest victory in a Grade 3 at Cork last time out was just rewards for a series of fine efforts in some pretty hot contests. Impressing how she travelled and jumped throughout the three-mile journey at the Co Mallow venue, Peter Fahey’s mare probably would have scored with a little more ease had she met the last fence on a better stride, but even so, a comfortable success over the high-class Killultagh Vic indicates she’s right on top of her game at present. Prior to that stylish display, the seven-year-old ran a good deal better than her form figures suggested when staying on strongly after slithering on landing at second one going down the back straight on the final circuit in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period (not sure how the Racing Post comments didn’t pick this up!). Earlier in the campaign, she’d also forced the very smart mare Camelia De Cotte (won three times since) to pull out all the stops in a listed chase at Clonmel and that was followed up by another excellent effort behind the equally-useful Mrs Lovett at Fairyhouse (was given too much to do). All in all, her form stacks up well in the context of today’s race, the trip and track should prove ideal, and hailing from a yard that have sent out the likes of Gypsy Island (impressive bumper winner) and The Big Dog (slightly unlucky runner-up to Zero Ten) already this week, another big performance is anticipated from a horse in the care of her Co Kildare handler.

City Island probably didn’t get the credit he deserved for winning the Ballymore at Cheltenham and he’s likely to prove very hard to beat if he’s anywhere near the same form 51 days on from that famous triumph. He is, however, predictably a very skinny price, so the safest option maybe to look towards the ‘without the favourite’ market for a smidgen of value and SAMS PROFILE (best price 7-1 w/o City Island) is the one who makes the most appeal.

Fancied in many quarters to be a big player in the Grade 1 2m5f contest at the Festival, Mouse Morris’ gelding was still in a with a decent shout when a bad mistake at the second last put paid to any faint hopes he may have of taking home the big prize and from that point onwards he could only plug on at the one-pace to finish a well-beaten fifth. Although it’s highly unlikely that the son of Black Sam Bellamy will be good enough to turn around the form with his old rival, the fact he still managed to beat some useful prospects that day, including the much-heralded Battleoverdoyen, makes him more than just a bit part player for today’s placings, and having run well on the three times he’s raced right-handed, it would be disappointing if he’s not nag there at the finish when the medals are being dished out.

Willie Mullins appears to have a strong hand in this above-average novice event and while all eyes will no doubt be focused on the hugely impressive Limerick winner, Breaken, stable companion CASH BACK (best price 6-1) is a fair prospect in his own right and he rates the strong each-way alternative to the short-priced favourite.

An easy winner over the useful Cosmo’s Moon (runner-up in the big handicap on day one) on his opening gambit for new connections, the feature of that performance was the excellent time figure he produced without being fully extended. Upped in class last time out at Fairyhouse, the son of Linda’s Lad cut out the running and had everything all bar stable mate Mister Blue Sky in trouble as the field turned for home, and although he couldn’t quite fend off his main market rival in the closing stages, he impressed by the way he stuck valiantly to the task at hand. As there appears to be plenty of pace on in today’s contest, it would come as no surprise if he was taken back in the early stages and given a more patient ride than last time and with those tactics seemingly suiting his keen-going style at Thurles back in March, he’s fancied to hit the frame at the very least.

Wild Shot has been in spectacular form of late and rates a worthy favourite, but the better option at the prices is to back the consistent FOOTSTEPS AT DAWN (best price 4-1) each-way now racing back over a suitable trip.

A cosy scorer over tonight’s C&D handicap back in November, Shane Nolan’s filly has been knocking at the door without adding to her winning tally since, but in all fairness to her, there has been one or two mitigating circumstances. A desperate draw, being too far back and then challenging on the un-favoured inside of the track proved her undoing two starts ago and then she just got caught out for tactical speed by Silk Cravat over seven-furlongs here last time out. Nicely birthed in stall six tonight and back over her option distance, it would be a surprise if the daughter of Footstepsinthesand doesn’t have a huge say in the eventual outcome.