Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

CLASSIC CHARM (best price 10-3) has built up a nice affinity with today’s C&D and with her also seemingly in her element under testing conditions, everything looks set fair for another big effort from Dean Ivory’s in-form filly.

A game winner of a competitive handicap when breaking her duck at the thirteenth attempt, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle didn’t have to wait too long to add to her tally as she ran out an even more convincing scorer on her return visit last time out. Jumping into the lead three out off the back of strong fractions, the three-year-old kept her foot on the pedal all the way to the line to score by a long-looking seven lengths and it came as no surprise to find she’d posted the fastest speed figure on the seven-race card and that including subsequent Group race hero, Miss O Connor. Despite being slapped across the wrists by the assessor, the numbers suggest she’s capable of more and she’s fancied to keep her unbeaten course record intact.

SAIKUNG (NAP) (best price 2-1) ran out an impressive winner at Nottingham despite a tardy beginning and she looks one to keep on side based on that performance.

Usually slow into her stride, Charlie Hills’ filly was once again true to her word in the early paces at the Midland venue, but importantly she settled well and was noted travelling well turning for home. Picking up readily as the strong pace collapsed inside the final two furlongs, the daughter of Acclamation swept by her field with a sharp turn of foot in a short space of time and she ended up winning going away with plenty left in the tank. Clearly a filly right on the money at the moment, the forecast rain during the morning will do her chances no harm, and with the excellent Sebastian Woods in the plate (who will hopefully drop her out and give her plenty of time to find her stride), she should have all bases covered.

THE PECKHAMPOUNCER (best price 7-2) is a really likeable type and following his breakthrough success at Tipperary the other day, he’s strongly fancied to continue his progression over a track that witnessed him run a big race on debut.

Not quite good enough for the likes of Sunday Sovereign and Arizona here back in the hot maiden back in early May, David Broad’s colt, however, did shape miles better than his 50-1 odds suggested and his subsequent performances have proven that run to be no fluke. Placed on his next three starts, the son of Cappella Sansevero shipped up at the Limerick Junction venue with high hopes of finally getting off the mark and despite racing over a sharp five-furlongs and trying soft ground for the first time, he came through the examination with flying colours. Very strong at the business end of that well-run affair five days ago, this big colt simply relished the easy underfoot c0onditions and with the forecast suggesting that the Co Kildare track is in for a soaking in the build up to the race, he should be in his element more than most.

CONCIERGE (best price 4-1) has a bit to find strictly on the book with Mercenary Rose on their meeting at Goodwood recently, but well drawn and back on the all-weather, there’s more than a fair chance that George Scott’s filly can turn the tables on her old rival.

In a race where the high numbers were favoured, the daughter of Society Rock got hung out to dry being forced to switch and race down the un-favoured middle part of the track and while Mercenary Rose was one of several to benefit for ploughing a furrow up the nearside rail, she came home strongly away from where the main action took place. On that evidence, the blinkers she wore first-time certainly didn’t do any harm and having been unlucky on her only previous visit to today’s track last September (clipped heels and almost fell two out), the three-year-old filly can hold her own in slightly shallower waters than her last two starts.

BUZZ KILLINGTON (best price 33-1) is still a bit of an unknown quantity in many respects, but he’s at least shown enough ability in three starts to justify a small interest at a big price in a race very much up for grabs.  Unsurprisingly outpaced twice over five-furlongs for a horse with a stout pedigree, Noel Meade’s gelding shaped well from a bad draw at Naas last time out over a furlong extra, but even so, he still looked as though he would be seen to better effect over further. Up to a mile here tonight, hopefully that will bring about further improvement and if he handles the ground, he can easily outrun his outrageous morning odds.

BLAIRMAYNE’s (best price 14-1) last two runs have been better than the bare results suggest and he’s worth a pop at a big price to bounce back to his best form over a track that has served him well in the past. A creditable second of those who raced up the stands’ side fence in the Scurry Premier Handicap here two starts ago (3lb out of handicap), Natalie Lupini’s gelding got no run whatsoever at Leopardstown when going well in behind the speed on his latest outing. Working on the basis that he would have gone close to winning that night and the other unlucky horse in the race Master Matt (won next time) is chalked up at 6-1, the son of Zebedee looks overpriced at his morning odds.