Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

If there is one thing that the enforced break has given the racing game since its return it is a hugely competitive flavour to the landscape and that general fervour to get horses back and under way again is never more epitomised by this Grade 3 hurdle with so many big names throwing their hat into the ring. Normally a race where just a chosen few turn up each year, today’s renewal has brought together the likes of the popular front-running grey, Petit Mouchoir, easy winner of the Grand Annual Chosen Mate, County Hurdle runner-up Aramon, Cesarewitch winner Stratum, and last year’s hero Davids Charm, all adding up to make this 40k prize a spicy affair.

However, despite those household favourites all likely to have their supporters, TURNPIKE TRIP (best price 12-1) could turn out to be the joker in the pack and he makes the most appeal at the morning odds.

An easy winner when making his hurdling debut for new connections at Cork last July, Charles Brynes’ gelding went on to run a super race in a listed contest at the Galway Festival when runner-up to the well-ridden Fast Buck. Back on track with a regulation victory over the 134-rated Quartz De Rheu at Listowel two months later, the son of Champs Elysees was once again upped in class again, this time at Grade 3 level, and he duly landed the spoils by beating a decent field over today’s C&D with more in hand than the official winning margin suggested (made a bad mistake at the last when well in control). Following a 56-day break, the six-year-old went on to run an absolute blinder in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle behind the mighty Envoi Allen and with the likes of Supreme Novices’ runner-up, Abacadabras, and Champion Hurdle third, Darvers Star sandwiched in between, it puts into context what he was up against on just his fifth start over hurdles. Brought over to the UK in a bid to land a big 85k pot in the Betfair Hurdle at Ascot on his final start of the season, Turnpike Trip ran with great credit in finishing fourth behind all-the-way winner Not So Sleepy and then for some reason we haven’t seen him since. The mere fact he pitches up in this hot race here rather than hunt around for easier pickings strongly suggests connections have him spot on after his 188-day break, and hailing from a yard who enjoyed their first winner of the season with Poseidon at Limerick the other day, hope is high this fella can keep up the good work for the shrewd Ballingary handler.

Magical Morning is bound to be a popular choice being a last-time-out winner representing the irresistible force of Messrs Gosden and Dettori, but because of their market dominance, there could be some value to be had with DREAMLOPER (best price 8-1), who ran well on her debut in a hot maiden at Newmarket.

Unfancied first time up at HQ, Ed Walker’s filly was held up in the rear in the early stages of what turned out to be a strongly-run affair and although she couldn’t land a blow on the three main players, she did come home with enough encouragement to suggest a bright future was ahead. Indeed, being a half-sister to a winner over middle distances, you’d like to think she will be seen to even better effect over further than seven furlongs and with today’s track often a haven for horses who are ridden patiently towards the rear in the early stages, hopefully she will receive a similar ride to the one she got 21 days ago and come through nicely late on in the piece.

Time may tell HARROVIAN (best price 9-4) faced an impossible task trying to give weight away to Babbo’s Boy on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock 19 days ago and even though he’s likely to face some similar heat from the similarly progressive Away We Go, John Gosden’s gelding is fancied to come through this particular task.

An improving middle-distance prospect last season until a poor run on unsuitable soft ground at York derailed his general progression, the son of Leroidesanimaux underwent a gelding operation during the off-season in a bid to try stabilise any issues in that area and on the evidence of his effort at the Merseyside track, it appears everything is in full working order. Although he got outpaced by a horse who was knocking out extremely quick final fractions, the four-year-old was doing his own doing a similar job to the rest of the field, and with one of the rivals, Alternative Fact, going on to advertise the value of the form at Royal Ascot, it looks a race worth keeping on side. Likely to have improved considering that was his first run for 239 days, he should be well-suited by the nature of today’s galloping track and providing the storm clouds keep away from the Yorkshire area, Harrovian has the class to turn away the sort of opposition he meets this afternoon.

Quite a tasty fillies contest on the menu here and it’s one where THEOPHILE (best price 6-1) will hopefully showcase her talents. An unfancied 80-1 chance when making her debut at Leopardstown last week, Jim Bolger’s filly wasn’t in the greatest position as the field turned for home, but in putting in a power-packed finish inside the final two furlongs, she almost snatched an unlikely victory from out of the fire. The way she went through the line strongly suggested a bright future lies ahead and with tonight’s galloping track likely to give her more opportunity to open up her impressive stride, the daughter of Teoflio should be capable of holding her own against some of the bigger names.