Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

A competitive-looking 7f handicap on paper, but having run well from poor draws in a similar contest last week, both CLONVILLE (best price 10-1) and LITTLE CAMACHO (best price 12-1) have considerably more chance of making a bigger impact than their position in the market suggests.

The former hadn’t really been in that great form going in to the race nine days ago, so to run as well as she did having been stuck out on the wing for the entire event was a sure sign that she’s working her way back to peak form. Her overall performance levels were enhanced even more considering the overall speed figure of the race for the grade, and having bagged a much better draw here this evening should mean thats he gets a chance to save more ground and vital energy for the final push this time around.

Unlike Clonville, who was ridden forward from his draw in the aforementioned heat, the latter was taken back and dropped out last from his stall out in the reeds and that manoeuvre, although probably the right one under circumstances, ultimately cost her any chance of being competitive. Anthony McCann’s filly, however, came home with enough pep in her step to suggest she would have been a bigger player with a better track position and even though she hasn’t been done too many favours on that score again on her return visit, she’s still worth a small interest given how well she ran under adversity.

CACIQUE ROYALE (best price 9-2) failed in his bid to land a monumental gamble here last time out, but as the winner that day, Pak Army, has gone on to boost the form since and he had to try and overcome a stinker of a draw, Andrew Oliver’s inmate is afforded another chance. Although up in the ratings for not winning, the speed figure suggests it’s more than a fair hike and having proved last season that when he’s in the groove, he can usually maintain a decent level of form (went back-to back in the space of three days last season), the four-year-old rates a strong choice to put up another bold show.

TARTLETTE (NAP) (best price 2-1) ran out an impressive winner on her all-weather debut here 28 days ago, and if the numbers she posted are to be believed, she’s going to take plenty of stopping again on her return visit.

Having her first outing for new connections since leaving Hughie Morrison, the daughter of Champs Elysees looked to have quite a bit on her plate as the field turned for home at the Co Lough venue, but in finding an explosive turn foot in the closing stages, she came from virtually last to first to score going away. Indeed, her final three furlong split of 34.4 ended up being by far and away the best sectionals on the entire eight-race card, so providing she’s within reasonable striking distance at the same point this time around, it will be difficult for this sort of field to contain her change of gear with a clear run.