Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

THE TRADER (best price 9-1) has figured prominently in two competitive ‘Saturday’ three-year-old handicaps and has done more than enough on each start to warrant an interest against similar opposition this afternoon. Mark Johnston’s inmate came from an improbable position in the London Gold Cup at Newbury two starts ago to finish a close-up fifth and with the winner, Headman, along with several others back in the field going on to boost the form since, he would certainly have a chance on that performance alone to see him figure prominently. Coltish beforehand at Epsom last time out, he still ran with great distinction despite his antics rather getting in the way of his final product, but now gelded in the interim, there’s a decent chance his mind will be focused more on the job at hand. It’s also worth pointing out that his stable has landed this prize five times in the last six years which is another reason why he has to be high on the shortlist.

GOOD BIRTHDAY (best price 8-1) was the other to come out of that London Gold Cup with great credit and if he was to come here off the back of that run and not the slightly disappointing effort at Royal Ascot, you could argue he’d be a good deal shorter in the betting. As it turned out, things never went right for Andrew Balding’s right from the start at the Berkshire venue and it was noted that Oisin Murphy was very easy on his mount once he realised his winning chance had gone two furlongs out. Back over his more favoured trip and on better ground, the son of Dabirisim is likely to be a bigger player here this afternoon.

RAFFLE PRIZE (best price 5-1) has a bit to find strictly on the book with old rival Daahyeh on their clash over on the Rowley Mile earlier in the season, but with Mark Johnston’s filly seemingly growing with stature with every run, there’s more than a fair chance she can turn the tables.

More professional next time at Chester, the daughter of Slade Power was allowed to take her chance in the Queen Mary last time out and although she went off a 20-1 outsider and the drop back in trip was a slight concern, she had enough qualities to pull through and defy all the negatives. Very strong in the latter part of the race, her time figure came out one of the best of the juvenile division at the six-day meeting (better furlong per furlong than Daahyeh’s Albany victory) and now racing back over a distance which will more than likely be her optimum in time, this likeable and tough chestnut rates the value call at her morning odds.

BREATHTAKING LOOK (NAP) (best price 9-2) posted a smart speed figure when landing a C&D handicap last time out and a repeat of that level of form is likely to see Stuart Williams’ filly right in the mix again on his return visit.

A promising third at York on her seasonal debut, the daughter of Bated Breath was fancied to find the necessary improvement when she came here 21 days ago and so it proved, turning in a performance of some quality. Bustled along coming out of the dip, she stayed on very strongly once meeting the rising ground and the further she went, the better she looked. Looking at her time figure compared to the one posted by Jaleel over the same C&D the day after and it’s plain that the four-year-old’s was stronger in every department and with fifth placed Heritage going on to boost the form line at Bath subsequently, there’s every chance this lightly-raced filly will follow suit.

TRIPLE DISTILLED (best price 7-2) had to be marked down as a hugely unlucky loser at Newmarket last time and he’s fancied to make amends hailing from a yard in unstoppable form at present.

Having run well in a competitive affair at Pontefract the time before, Nigel Tinker’s gelding was understandably a warm order at HQ two weeks later and but for meeting all sorts of trouble in running, he would have easily justified his position in the market. Taken out of what would have surely been a hopeless task against the ridiculously well handicapped Naaharr at Chelmsford last week, the son of Tamayuz heads to the Knavesmire today in search of much easier pickings and even though he’s yet to really shine in three previous attempts over today’s seven-furlong trip, his run style and levels of improvement of late give him more of a fighting chance of overcoming that particular deficiency.