Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Eden De Houx has run well against some tidy novices so far this season and, with a wind-op also threatening to bring about some improvement, he could well justify favouritism. That said, this will be no bargain for the Pipe runner up against MARIO DE PAIL (best price 5-2) and Sam Thomas’ inmate is fancied to give the jolly all the trouble he can handle on ground that he will relish.

A creditable runner-up to the smart Induno at Ffos Last on his seasonal debut back in October, the son of Blue Bresil went one place better when getting the better of the strongly fancied Gustavian at the same track next time out and with the runner-up going on to advertise the form subsequently, he was well-supported to make a winning hurdling debut at Kelso next time. Settling nicely in behind the pace set by the well-backed Dubai Days, the five-year-old grey picked up the running on the long run down to the last and once in command, he readily pulled clear to score in emphatic fashion. Clocking a useful time into the bargain, he proved that he’s a stronger stayer at the trip and with today’s ground likely to make this a thorough test in the conditions, Mario De Pail easily rates the value pick of the front two in the market.

NIGEL NOTT (NAP) (best price 13/8) showed good all round speed to score with plenty in hand at Chelmsford last time out and with today’s track expected to play even more into his strengths, David Simcock’s is fancied to poke one in the eye for the weight-for-age theories.

Promising when third on his debut at the Essex track, the son of Dutch Art was nicely backed to get off the mark at the second time of asking on his return trip and after breaking well to pick up the running soon after the start, he readily pulled clear of his three rivals to vindicate the impression he created first time up. Moreover, his overall time figure and backend sectionals pointed towards a four-year-old of serious ability and if he shows the same sort speed from the inside gate here today, even some of the promising younger horses may struggle to keep tabs on him.

BILL AND BARN (best price 9/2) was still in contention when he capsized at the fourth last at Plumpton last time out and providing he’s suffered no ill effects from that untimely exit, Seamus Mullins’ gelding can recoup some of the losses if he can run to level he did here the time before.

To say he’s got mixed form over fences would be an understatement, but as we saw here two starts ago, he has the ability to win a race of this nature and the time figure he posted that day would definitely give him a squeak if he could run to a similar level. Whether he would have won the other day had he not fallen is open to question, but either way, he was going well enough to suggest he still remains in decent nick and as his only career success came over today’s track on heavy ground last season, at least you are backing a horse who clearly knows his way around the Welsh venue.

A real puzzle to solve here with so many different angles to explore, but there’s a decent chance that both KOYBIG (best price 9-1) and NORDIC PASSAGE (best price 16-1) can be competitive if their latest exploits are anything to go by.

The former has enjoyed plenty of success at tonight’s track and although his form figures of late hardly suggest he’s bursting out of his skin, he did more than enough last time out to intimate a return to something approaching his best isn’t too far away. Turning for home with only one behind him 14 days ago, David Marnane’s inmate would have finished a good deal closer had he not got checked for room trying to go for a daring run up the far rail and considering that was his first outing for 79 days, his performance deserves upgrading. A four-time C&D winner, the eight-year-old might not be dead and buried just yet.

The latter hasn’t won since his debut but his last two runs have been a little more encouraging and he’s worth a shy at the stumps at a big price. Outpaced until running on nicely late on over six-furlongs two starts ago, Johnny Levins’ gelding caught the eye with the way he finished off his race again over an extra furlong here last time, and on the evidence of both of those performances, it’s easy to see the mile suiting him at the first time of asking.