Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Imperial Aura shaped like the best horse in a useful heat at Cheltenham last time before his stamina gave way over three miles, and while the temptation was to blast into him at a short price, the safest option could well turn out to be small play in the direction of ON THE SLOPES (best price 5-1) in both the win and ‘without the favourite’ markets.

Unlike the favourite’s stable (Kim Bailey has gone 17 runners and 21 days without a winner), the Chris Gordon yard continues to thrive and it’s not as if his gelding has got masses to find on form based on his superb effort in a hugely-competitive novices’ handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day. Won by stable mate Commanche Red, the son of Librettist came out best of those who raced up with the pace that day and being as the final circuit time of the race in question was better than the King George winner, Clan Des Obeaux, it puts into perspective his overall level of performance in defeat. Placed on his three other chase starts, including another fair effort on the figures at Ascot, the six-year-old should be heavily involved again if running to a similar standard.

Some promising types on show here, including the highly-regarded Allart and the strong-travelling Namid Dancer, who has the ability to win if he settles, but ADICCI (best price 9-2) has done little wrong in his four starts to date and he makes plenty of each-way appeal at the morning odds.

Placed in three above-average bumpers against some smart opposition, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding was sent off favourite to make a successful start to his hurdles career at Plumpton 39 days ago and after a titanic struggle with his main market rival Neff, he eventually came out on top. Despite not being massively in love with the testing ground, the son of Shirocco still managed to post a decent speed figure at the Sussex track, and with the runner-up and fifth both going on to advertise the form of the race since, a repeat should see him there or thereabouts.

The Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown is always a race worth following (previous two renewals produced the winner of the final at Cheltenham) and having run well in this year’s renewal only two weeks ago, MISTER FOGPATCHES (NAP) (best price 10-3) receives the confident vote to get back to winning ways.

Progressing nicely, Pat Fahy’s inmate gained his just rewards for a fine second the time before when showing an abundance of stamina in the closing stages to get the better of Oh’Herewego at Navan and off the back of that effort, he was raised significantly in grade next time out. Despite not having the quality to go with the main players at the Dublin venue, the six-year-old grey kept on well enough to finish a creditable eighth of the 25-strong field and when you consider the final lap time of that ultra-competitive handicap was run in a considerably faster time than Grade 1 hurdle scorer Apples Jade half an hour later, he clearly ran a good deal better than at first glance. Of the limited sample size we have of him, three miles on soft ground seems to be his optimum and with today’s contest easily representing a significant step down in class compared that burn-up he encountered 13 days ago, it would be disappointing if he wasn’t competitive in a race of this nature.

No doubt all eyes will be on No Needs Never who has to rate the classiest and sexiest horse in this line-up by some way, but as expected, he’s been priced up accordingly, so the percentage call at the prices is to play the race-fit YUFTEN (best price 7-2) in the with and ‘without the favourite’ markets.

As we saw with Make A Challenge during the summer months, Denis Hogan can turn some horses inside out and on the evidence of what we’ve seen of this nine-year-old of late, the Co Tipperary handler seems to be working his magic with this veteran. Since gaining plenty of confidence via a series of claiming victories, the son of Invincible Spirit has more than held his own in open handicap company since and if anything, his latest success in a competitive and classy 0-105 handicap was one of his career highlights. Moreover, his time figure in victory that night suggests he’s a good as ever and, now returning to his optimum trip of a mile, another bold show looks on the cards.