Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

FIRST RESPONSE (best price 9-4) was more than a shade unlucky not to land a similar prize over today’s C&D last time out and with a more favourable rub of the green on his return to the Dunstall Park track, Linda Stubbs’ gelding has a great chance of going one place better.

Held up off the pace in a strongly-run affair seven days ago, the five-year-old came with what looked a well-timed challenge only to get touched off in the dying strides by the fast-finishing track specialist, Kaser. Indeed, had he not clipped heels with the fading Storm Ahead (missed by the guys in the Racing Post analysis) and lost valuable momentum in the process, he may well have hung on, so working on the theory that he arrives here a winner without a penalty, the son of First Defence is fancied to make amends.

NEZAR (best price 11-2) ran a good deal better than his finishing position suggested over a trip short of his best here last time out and on the evidence of that eye-catching performance, he’s worth a speculative punt to see whether he can confirm the promise.

Dropped to six furlongs off the back of a 107-day break, Dean Ivory’s inmate unsurprisingly found himself a little outpaced early doors and as a result, he turned for home in an unpromising position. He did, however, come home with plenty of purpose down the home straight to finish hot on the heels of the main players without being subject to anything like a hard time and with tonight’s extra furlong likely to provide him with more time to find his stride, a big run looks on the cards.

SHEISDIESEL (best price 9-4) strongly indicated she’s about to hit peak form sooner rather than later with an eye-catching display here last time out and now returning to a more favourable trip, Noel Meade’s mare can add to her already impressive tally at the track.

Six times a winner on the all-weather, two over tonight’s C&D, the daughter of Harbour Watch showed a degree of improvement following her first start for 195-days back at the Co Lough venue two weeks later, coming from a long way back in a strongly-run affair to be a never-nearer fourth at the finish behind several in-form performers. Once hitting the turn of the year last campaign, the six-year-old rattled off a four-timer in quick succession and on the evidence of that latest display before the Christmas break, she looks poised to go on a similar rampage.