Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Some talented novices to the chasing ranks here, none more so than IMPERIAL AURA (best price 5-1) who looks grossly overpriced on what he’s already achieved, not to mention the potential of even more to come.

A big eye-catcher on his first outing of the season when faring best of those that raced up with a suicidal pace in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, Kim Bailey’s gelding made his chasing debut at Fakenham last time out and, as his price suggested, he made short work of his only two rivals. In what turned out to be an exercise in just eyeing up the fences correctly, he at least showed he had a good technique and even though today’s examination will obviously be far greater in every aspect, the son of Kalanisi has the class to show he belongs in this sort of company.

BARNTOWN (best price 17-2) has really come into his own once stepping in to handicap company and despite this being by far and away his biggest test to date, he’s fancied to give a good account.

Looking the most likely winner when falling at the last at Lingfield two starts ago, Tim Vaughan’s gelding dusted himself down and headed back to the Surrey venue on a retrieval mission and this time he made no mistake. Always going well in behind a good pace for the conditions, the son of Jeremy stayed on extremely well from two out to get the better of the well-fancied Theo’s Charm and with the pair pulling well clear of the rest, the form looks fairly watertight. Racing on the New Course here this afternoon, today’s test should suit the five-year-old who stays beyond two miles well, and he rates a decent each-way proposition down the foot of the handicap.

CREATIONIST (best price 9-2) left the impression he was the best horse in the final of the London Middle Distance Series at Kempton last time out and he’s taken to vindicate that view in this similar affair.

Unlucky the time before in one of the qualifiers, Roger Charlton’s gelding was well backed to make amends 24 days ago, but unfortunately, the race back at the Surrey venue turned into a farce and the funereal gallop didn’t really suit this strong-travelling type. That said, he still ran well to only get done in the shadows of the post and providing they go a more even tempo here this evening, the son of Noble Mission will have every chance of putting the record straight.

BOLLY BULLET (best price 14-1) ran well enough from an uncompromising position here last time to suggest he has sufficient ability to win a race and even though the draw could have been kinder, he’s still worth a small interest to back up that promising effort two weeks ago.

Too aggressively ridden over tonight’s C&D when fading late on the time before, the son of Helmet got posted out wide on his return visit a month later and, as a result, he ended up turning for home with only one behind him. Running on strongly down the straight, however, the well-built two-year-old clocked a fair sectional to finish a never-nearer sixth in a race that produced a decent speed figure and with tonight’s return to seven-furlongs seen as a plus if he’s given another conservative ride, there’s every chance he will outrun his odds.

Both MISTY AT SEA (best price 10-3) and ARNHEM (best price 9-1) ran really well for various reasons in a similar C&D maiden here last time out and they are taken against the field.

The former was aggressively ridden in what turned out to be a well-run affair and, as a result, faded in the dying strides when engulfed by two deep-closing rivals. That said, he showed enough that night to suggest he has plenty of ability if harnessed in the correct manner and despite another tricky draw, he’s worth a punt.

The latter was the big eye-catcher in the same race and, with likely improvement to come, he rates a solid each-way alternative. Held up and hung out wide from a high draw, Natalia Lupini’s gelding stayed on best of all to be a never-nearer fourth at the line and with the much better draw here this evening, a big run looks on the cards.