Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

A truly desperate race, one well within the compass of SPRINGWOOD DRIVE (NAP) (best price 5-4) based on her latest effort at Doncaster.

Making her handicap debut on Town Moor after three promising efforts in useful maidens, Tim Easterby’s filly only found one to good in the closing stages, but she certainly shaped well enough to suggest her opening mark isn’t too penal. In a race run at a strong gallop for the grade thanks to the exploits of Maid Of Spirit, the daughter of Mayson had little trouble laying up with the speed and although she couldn’t quite match the finishing effort of eventual winner, Dubai Elegance (unlucky at Yarmouth in a slowly-run affair the other night), she kept on well enough to take the scalps of some in-form fillies such as Aperitif and Fumbo Jumbo. Having proven she can handle easy ground and being by a sire who’s offspring tend to relish give underfoot, the rain that has fallen in the last 24 hours shouldn’t impact on her chances and other than Sarasota Bay, the rest of the opposition look modest to say the very least.

Castletownsend continues to frustrate and as a result, he offers very little in terms of value down the front end of the market whereas both HIELLA (best price 11-2) and SUN SIGN (best price 11-2) have the scope to be much more progressive and are worth taking against the field.

The former hasn’t run since catching the eye with a whirlwind finish which carried her into second spot from the back of the field in a similar race at Naas back in June and with the winner, Count D’Orsay, going on to boost the form since switching to the Tim Easterby stable, the form rates even stronger than it did at the time. Although she may ultimately require an extra furlong to be seen to full effect, she showed enough all-round pace at the Co Kildare venue to suggest the minimum trip is well within range and having also run well with ease underfoot at the same track the time before, any showers in the area shouldn’t make life too uncomfortable for Johnny Murtagh’s filly.

The latter also ended up being heavily involved in the finish of the same race two months ago and she, too, makes plenty of appeal at the prices. Bumped and behind in the earlier stages, Denise Foster’s filly rattled home to such a degree that it was easy to come to the conclusion she would have gone close to winning with a trouble-free passage, and it was a similar story to her latest effort at Navan a month later. Drawn 18 of the 18-strong field, the daughter of Shamardal made the vastly-experienced Sunset Nova – who had the luxury of racing over on the favoured far side rail - pull out all the stops and that performance went a long way to showing the sort of ability she has for a horse rated at the moment, just 67. Clearly better than that current mark, she looks the type who could win a nice pot one day the way she travels and finishes off her races and providing they go a good gallop and she ends up being housed in the right part of the track (drawn in the middle) it’s hard to envisage her not having a huge say in the final outcome.

AGRAPART (best price 7-4) is better known for his exploits over hurdles, but he showed he’s no back number on the Flat at Ascot last time out and with the forecast rain very much coming to his aid, Nick Williams’ gelding is fancied to provide the in-form pilot, Megan Nicholls, with another winner.

Winner of the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham 18 months ago, the son of Martaline looked potentially well-treated on a rare foray on the Flat and off a mark 76lbs lower than his hurdle rating and with conditions in his favour at the Berkshire venue, he duly obliged. Nowhere near as effective under fast conditions, he will need plenty of rain to get into the ground by post time, but providing the weathermen are right, he should get enough that will allow him to run to somewhere near his best and if that turns out to be the case, his class will see him home.

FACE OFF (best price 15-2) hasn’t run since battering a useful field of sprint handicappers at Navan 62 days ago, largely due to unsuitable ground, but with the forecast suggesting there should be plenty of rain to ease the going sufficiently here tonight, Charles O’Brien’s filly could well be worth the wait.

Dispensed with the hood at the Co Meath track, the daughter of Mizzen Mast raced really kindly in the early part of the contest and then once asked to go about her work in the latter stages, she readily pulled clear to score in the fast time. Moreover, the likes of Art Of Unity, Early Call and Takeachancejimmy have all gone on to boost the form and given that she’s already proven over a stiff five-furlongs with plenty of cut underfoot, there’s a good deal to like about her chance of a repeat success.