Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Having finished a brave runner-up in the Coventry and Richmond on his last two starts, no horse would deserve a victory here more than Threat, but at the same time, he may have more on his plate than his morning odds suggest and he’s passed over at the prices in favour of SPARTAN FIGHTER (best price 8-1).

Although at the time his victory at Ripon seemed fairly mandatory, the post-race speed figure and subsequent Ascot success of the runner-up that day, A’Ali, has made the racing public view that breakthrough performance in a totally different light. Quite rightly sent off a red-hot favourite to confirm the same form line here himself next time out, Declan Carroll’s colt duly obliged and although it could be argued that he wasn’t quite as spectacular as one might have hoped for, it looked a case of giving him enough experience of the track with today in mind without giving him too a hard race. Having seemingly skipped Royal Ascot with the sole purpose of coming here in peak form, the son of Dutch Art looks to have had the ideal preparation to run for his life and it’s difficult to see him not going well given his time figures, ability to handle the track and overall strength of his form.

TIGERSKIN (NAP) (best price 11-4) created a favourable impression when bolting up over today’s C&D last time out and providing he’s in anyway near the same form 10 days on from that demolition job, he’s going to take plenty of stopping.

Racing in the first-time tongue-tie/blinker combination at the Welsh track, Ralph Beckett’s gelding set off with a degree of purpose through the first mile and despite him looking vulnerable to several challengers two out, he found more when required to pull well clear late on. Unsurprisingly given the gallop he went throughout, the son of Nathaniel clocked a big speed figure for the grade and with the conditions set to be pretty similar to what they were on that occasion, it’s just a case of hoping that headgear works for the second time in succession.

Party Playboy has been a loyal servant to this column in recent times and while he looks almost certain to go well, he’s marginally passed over on this occasion if favour of recent C&D winner, STATIC JACK (best price 6-1). As we know, Gavin Cromwell is very much a big-time player in the training ranks right now and his ability to turn around the fortunes of horse’s flagging careers as been a feature of his meteoric rise. This son of Heliostatic, for instance, was pulled up on his previous two starts for Ellmarie Holden, yet on the evidence of his first two outings for the Co Meath handler, he looks a totally different proposition. A nose runner-up on his first start at Down Royal was eclipsed by a game victory in a much tougher race here last month and with the time figure of the race in question excellent, he clearly ran a good deal better than his tumbling rating of 116. Interestingly, the eight-year-old was kept away from the Galway Festival presumably to be saved for this race on his return visit and with tonight’s contest likely to be run at a good pace, he should turn out to be in his element.

OPEN WIDE (best price 2-1) ran an absolute storming race when runner-up to the potential Group-performer Khaadem in the Stewards Cup last time out and a repeat of that level of form should ensure goes close to getting back in the winners’ circle.

A smooth winner at Windsor three starts ago, Amanda Perrett’s gelding was targeted at the big sprint series back at the same track two weeks alter and although he came up just short of the mark that night, he had to be carried out on his shield with another top-quality display. Backed at long odds to capture his biggest ever success over tonight’s C&D 20 days ago, travelled with his usual verve towards the rear of the field, but just when he was asked to make his challenge approaching the two-furlong pole, he got checked momentarily in his run, which cost him valuable ground and track position. Unable to recover fully, he did, however, run on strongly to grab a huge slice of the pie and even though he faces stern opposition again this evening, he looks sure to put up a bold show over a track that suits his stalk-and-pounce run style.

With already a rating of 105 and a Group 3 victory to her name, Love sets a fair standard in this useful-looking contest for fillies’, but in the shape ALPINE STAR (best price 7-2), she faces a serious challenger who might just have the requisite qualities to lower her colours and thus turn around the form from their previous encounter.

The race in question was a maiden at Leopardstown last month and with Love having had the benefit of two previous outings, she took advantage of that edge in fitness and knowledge by making all the running. Running on nicely just in behind her, however, was Jessica Harrington’s filly and she left the distinct impression that day she would be a totally different proposition next time out – and so it proved. Clearly the education she garnered at the Dublin venue wasn’t lost on her next time at Galway and the way she quickened and powered up the hill to victory was in the style of a potential pattern filly. With her numbers at Ballybrit good and the fourth going on to win easily since, the form looks rock-solid and with her handler having an abundance if riches in this category this season, the daughter of Sea The Moon can stake a claim of her own.

A race in which Aidan O’Brien has dominated in recent times (won five of the last six renewals) and the Ballydoyle maestro looks like he means business again sending no fewer than four of the nine-strong field to post. Of the quartet, the jockey bookings and betting suggests Armory is the one to beat and while that turn out to be the case, stable mate LOPE Y FERNANDEZ (best price 15-2) shouldn’t be totally written off just yet. A red-hot favourite to win the Chesham at Royal Ascot, the son of Lope De Vega had the misfortune to bump into the mighty Pinatubo at the Berkshire venue and although he was backed again to gain his revenge at Goodwood last time out, he ended up getting a bigger beating. That said, on each occasion, the time figures have been off the scale by two-year-old standards so he actually hasn’t run as bad as the losing margins have suggested and having already proven himself over tonight’s C&D on debut, it would be disappointing if he couldn’t make the frame at the very least.