Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

SONGKRAN (NAP) (best price 3-1) ran about as well as could be expected from a poor draw at York last time out and he’s fancied to regain the winning thread in this much less taxing company. 

Stuck out in the cheap seats in stall 17 on the Knavesmire, as a result, David Elsworth’s colt turned for home with a mountain to climb and although he inevitably succumbed to the impossible task, he did impress by the way he kept on battling all the way down the straight. Prior to that creditable performance, the son of Slade Power first gave out signals of his tenacious attitude by staying on gamely for pressure to split the likes of Biometric and Jilbaab at Salisbury and with that pair going on to boost that particular race subsequently, it’s pretty clear he has some of the strongest form lines coming into today’s assignment. 

BACK TO BRUSSELS (best price 7-1) got the job done in pretty professional fashion on debut at Navan and she looks underrated and overpriced on the basis of that success compared to the achievements of some of her opponents up to now. 

In what a decent maiden on paper beforehand, they went a good gallop at the Co Meath venue and impressing by the way she travelled from the word go, Fozzy Stack’s filly moved into contention approaching the final furlong. Once meeting the rising ground, she readily pulled away from her rivals and with the time figure pointing towards it being a fair race of its kind, it comes as little surprise to see her heading straight into pattern company.

Picked up by the powerful Phoenix Thoroughbred group subsequently, obviously aspirations of a Royal Ascot encounter will have no doubt been one of the main reasons behind the sale and providing she comes through her latest test with her reputation still intact, a trip over the Irish Sea to the Berkshire venue will still remain on the agenda.

Some fairly exposed and frustrating sorts on show here, but the same can’t necessarily be said for Gee Rex who has the distinction of running well in a quality Group race at Naas last time out. A repeat of that sort of effort may well be good enough, but away from the obvious, SONAIYLA (best price 5-1 W/out Gee Rex) makes some sort of appeal in the ‘without the favourite’ market having run better than the bare result suggests on her last two starts. 

Fairly well despite being draw away from where the main action took place at Naas two starts ago Michael Halford’s filly was thrown to the lions to a certain degree last time out when asked to contest a red-hot premier handicap back at the same venue.

Badly hampered at a crucial stage in that well-run affair 13 days ago, the daughter of Dark Angel served notice of what have been with the way she stayed on strongly in the latter stages once out in the clear and with tonight’s venue having many similar characteristics in terms on track layout, there’s no reason why she won’t be capable of running to a level good enough to see her heavily involved in the final outcome.