Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Global Society is progressing along the right lines and is quite clearly going to play a major role in the outcome of this race, but at the same time, he doesn’t have the form in the book that OFFALLTHEGINJOINTS (best price 5-2) has and for that reason, Colin Tizzard’s gelding makes far more appeal at the morning odds.

A game winner on hurdles debut at Chepstow back in October, the son of Stowaway had the likes of subsequent winners Proschema and Harry Senior in behind him that day, so it came as a bit of a disappointment that he got beaten when he shipped up over today’s C&D next time out. A creditable fourth in a Grade 2 at Sandown when upped in class next time, the six-year-old ran a similar race at Cheltenham when last seen and with all of those who contested that listed affair 37 days ago having gone on to boost the form subsequently, his credentials in this lower grade contest are there for all to see.

It’s certainly paid to make reference to those who have run well against the far side track advantage over the straight course here in recent times, so with that in mind, both GUPTA (best price 4-1) and AMAZING AMAYA (best price 9-1) might have better chances than there runs last time suggest now that they are housed potentially more favourably.

Drawn next the nearside fence in stalls ten and nine, the pair were struggling to keep up with their main rivals ploughing a smoother passage up the middle of the track eight ago days, but to their eternal credit, they each kept on strongly all the way to the line to finish within hailing distance of the main protagonists. Considering the former was having his first outing post wind-op and a 62-day break, his effort has to go down as a very commendable one and now positioned more favourably in stall two, David Brown’s gelding can improve upon his fourth place finish. The latter had gone in to her latest effort off the back of a win and a third over the same C&D, but to all intents and purposes she probably didn’t run anywhere near below the level she had previously, she just didn’t have any chance of being as competitive as her form suggested due to her poor track position throughout. Back towards the main bulk of where the action is likely to take place on her return visit, Derek Shaw’s mare has to be worth a roll of the dice at tempting odds.

ON THE SLOPES (best price 4-1) has yet to win in five starts over fences, but his overall form levels have been at a fairly high level and with two of his better performances coming over today’s course, there’s a decent chance he can put that valuable experience to good use and finally deliver the goods.

A creditable third here three starts ago, Chris Gordon’s gelding then went on to produce arguably his best effort so far to date when filling out the same position behind stable mate Commanche Red in a red-hot handicap over the C&D on Boxing Day. Indeed, the time figure of that race at the Surrey track came out very favourable compared to the King George and it’s been no surprise to see the race work out as well as it has with the likes of Simply The Betts, Hold The Note and Mr McGo all franking the form since. Another commendable effort behind the aforementioned Simply The Betts in a similar heat at Cheltenham recently has only gone to further highlight his levels of consistency and with the drop back to 2m2f threatening to ideal for the son of Librettist, he looks overpriced on what he’s achieved compared to some of his main rivals.

FIT FOR FUNCTION (best price 9-1) has run extremely well on each of his last three starts and it would come as no surprise to see him bang on the premises once again from a draw much better than of late.

Parked out in the cheap seats two outings ago, the son of Captain Gerrard had to use up a good bit of petrol to work himself in to a challenging position turning for home, so even though he struck the front and looked likely to win for a stride or two inside the final quarter mile, he eventually succumbed to the law of physics and he lost two places close home. Posted even wider over six furlongs on his most recent outing, Joe Murphy’s seven-year-old ran the first three furlongs stranded out on the wing, so it was to his utmost credit that he managed to keep on as well as he did for fourth behind the in-form pair, Arcanears and Tommy Taylor. Moreover, the overall time figure and final splits for that race 21 days ago suggested it was an above-average affair and even allowing for the fact that his inexperienced pilot might not be the finished article in the saddle (only her second ride in public), he’s still worth a decent crack based on recent evidence at the morning odds available.

American Lady is obviously going attract quite a bit of attention here having already dipped her toe in to pattern company, but as she hasn’t run for 140 days, a certain element of guesswork is involved and at the morning prices, she’s passed over in favour of BOMBSHELL (best price 7-1), who has no fitness or wellbeing concerns to answer.

Heavily-backed to make a winning debut here back November, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate re-enacted her own version of the classic Hamlet cigar advert by staying in the stalls while all the others had long gone and with that desperately slow start, her chances literally went up in smoke. Fitted with the tongue-tie for her latest start, the daughter of No Nay Never was once again tardily out of the gates and towards the rear again early, but at least this time she didn’t quite have as much ground to make up and she was good enough to run on strongly through most of the field to finish a creditable second to the useful Big Gossey. Clocking sub-35.0 in her own personal time trial that evening, the three-year-old filly showed in no uncertain terms why she’s been so popular in the betting on her first start starts and providing she can come out on terms with the rest at the third time of asking, she has enough ability to threaten the main players.