Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

As we know, Uttoxeter is very much a specialist track during the winter months with its extremely testing surface often suiting a certain type of performer, and having proven himself to be quite at home under testing conditions here on more than one or two occasions, FINAL CHOICE (best price 6-1) rates a solid each-way proposition given his current wellbeing.

A winner at the Midland track over 2m4f back in June, Adam West’s gelding proved that the 3m trip was well within his range when scoring with even more ease on his return visit last time out. Despite incurring a hike in the ratings and being up against a stiffer set of opponents, the son of Makfi is still expected to put his invaluable course knowledge to good use in a race which is bound to be quite a test in the conditions. Bottom weight Sirobbie falls into a similar category as the section and rates the main danger if handling slightly softer ground than he’s been used to of late.

Moore’s Legacy looked to be out on his feet when suffering a tired-looking fall at the fourth last here last time out and he makes limited appeal down the front end of the market, whereas ONURBIKE (best price 9-2) seems a fair more reliable conveyance and yet can be backed at twice the price.

A little in-and-out at times, John O’Neill’s gelding seems to be in one of his purple patches at the moment and that view is backed up by his game victory at Bangor last time out. Although he only scored by a narrow margin at the Welsh track, he appeared to be dossing on the run-in after a slow jump at the last threatened to derail his unassailable-looking lead and with that performance coming off the back of a more comfortable success at Chepstow, his confidence must be at an all-time high.

GIROLAMO (best price 11-2) clocked a decent speed figure when scoring on his all-weather debut here last time out and a similar performance looks on the cards despite the handicapper doing his best to intervene.

Easy to back here 14 days ago, hence the 20-1 starting price, Jim Bolger’s gelding always travelled like he was going to bely those odds and having picked up the running going best turning for home, he stayed on powerfully inside the final two furlongs to register a comfortable win. Of what we’ve seen so far this winter campaign at the Co Louth venue, the son of Dawn Approach has easily recorded the best numbers over this C&D, and with the likelihood of even more to come from this lightly-raced and scopey chestnut, he makes far more appeal at the odds than Eminence, who up to now is causing his legion of supporters a hole heap of pain (a well-beaten favourite on his last two starts here). 

POWER LINK (NAP) (best price 15-8) did remarkably well to finish as close as did considering the brutal trip he incurred here last time out and now with a much more favourable draw, James Tate’s grey is strongly fancied to go one place better on his return visit.

Dropped out by design thanks to his high draw, the son of Data Link immediately found himself playing catch in the early stages, but running hard all the way to the line from a seemingly impossible position, he managed to get within hailing distance of the much more prominently-ridden winner, Motagally. Moreover, the numbers the main players knocked out at the Dunstall Park venue 13 days ago suggested it was a very good race for the grade and having easily accounted for subsequent winner, Busby, the time before at Kempton, the in-from three-year-old rates a solid choice off a similar mark.

HIT THE BID (best price 9-2) has been a fantastic globe-trotter for connections in recent times and he certainly has all the right credentials to go close at a track where he’s shown a liking for in the past.

Runner-up to Take Cover in this race back in 2017, Darren Bunyan’s gelding went two places better in last year’s renewal and although tonight’s contest rates arguably a tougher assignment looking at the field assembled, he still should make a bold bid. In good form generally during his winter exploits in Dubai the son of Exceed And Excel has run pretty well on his three starts since returning to these shores and nicely positioned in stall one, he should get a nice tow through around the inside before making his bid for home late on.