Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

With the greatest respect to this field, BADDESLEY KNIGHT (best price 7-1) would be used to competing at a much higher level that all of these, so it just all boils down to whether Chris Gordon has one of his stable stars close to peak fitness after a 278-day break.

Useful in bumpers before embarking on a campaign over hurdles which resulted in one win and several notable efforts in defeat, the son of Doyen was sent over fences last season in a bid to make an impact in that sphere and although he only ended up having three runs, each performance was to a pretty high standard. Looking an exciting prospect when clocking a fast time in beating a useful field of novices at Wincanton back in November, the seven-year-old was a warn order in his bid to scale even greater heights but unfortunately he bumped into the top-class Maire Banrigh at the beginning of her power surge and he could only play a minor role. Not seen out since and undergoing another tweak with his wind, hopefully that procedure will have worked the trick and if so, he could be hard to beat back over hurdles before going on to better things when regaining the thread over fences.

Presenting Dylan did what the market foretold at Roscommon a few days ago and, as a result, is likely to be an extremely warm order in his bid to follow up, but him aside, the minor money looks up for grabs and SARGENT LIGHTFOOT (best price 9-2) appeals as the one most likely to chase the favourite home.

Yet to win in eight starts over hurdles, Adrian Murray’s gelding showed a good deal more on his latest outing at Ballinrobe when runner-up to Ciankyle, and if it wasn’t for him being badly hampered coming out of the back straight, he may have made the breakthrough. Form-wise the race in question has already began to work out with the third, Trees Valley, scoring at Listowel last week and with easy underfoot conditions unlikely to pose any major problems, a prominent display should be forthcoming.

MEASURE OF MAGIC (best price 7-2) has been dining at the top table against some of the best sprinters of her generation so far this season and arriving her following another sterling effort in the Flying Childers at Doncaster, she’s fancied to go well again hailing from a stable that shows no sign of slowing down.

Third to the top-class Miss Amulet in a listed race at Naas three starts ago, Johnny Murtagh’s filly then ran miles better than her finishing position suggested in the Ballyhane Stakes back at the same venue next time, when her low draw and six-furlong trip prevented her from deservedly finishing in the money. Backed at big odds dropping back down to the minimum trip on Town Moor last time out, she once again showed bright all-round speed until not quite getting home in the dying strides, but it’s a measure of how far she has come in a such a short space of time that she is capable of mixing it against genuine Group-race performers. Unlike some races on the round track, most five-furlong races here tend to be won by horses racing up with the speed and with her run-style very much lending itself to that sort of template, a good break from her favourable low draw should see her vying her top honours at the business end.

Many of these have yet to race at this level, including ZAFFY’S PRIDE (best price 8-1), but what she does lack in experience, she more than makes up for with vital track knowledge and that advantage is likely to count for plenty in the final analysis.

Winner of a barrier trial here back in July, Jessica Harrington’s filly was fancied to make a winning debut on her return visit a month later and although she narrowly failed in her bid to justify the support, she still managed to finish ahead of the very smart Dense Star, who went on to score by a wide margin at Navan next time out. Unable to handle soft ground so effectively when a bit disappointing on her turf debut at Navan next time, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai came back to the Co Lough venue a couple of weeks ago in a bid to break here maiden tag and having travelled well throughout, she stayed on very strongly to get the better of the listed-placed Coulthard. Posting a useful speed figure in the process, she technically has form figures here which read 121 and with tonight’s extra furlong likely to bring about further improvement given the way she finished off her race 14 days ago, she rates a stonking each-way bet at the morning odds.

EAGLEMONT (NAP) (best price 9-4) came up trumps on his first attempt on the all-weather here last week and with the numbers he posted in victory also pretty tidy, there’s a decent chance of more silver wear heading his way.

Progressing the right way on turf until derailed by soft ground at Navan two starts ago, Joseph O’Brien’s was pitched into handicap company for the first time in a bid to change his fortunes and although the end result suggests it was a fairly regulation victory, his performance has a good deal more substance to it than first meets the eye. Held up towards the rear after dwelling slightly leaving the stalls, the son of Camelot found himself in a poor track position as the field swept for home, but with a long, withering run down the outside in the straight, he ran past virtually the entire field to win going away. Having watched too many races I care to mention at this track, experience tells me only the really good ones tend to come from that far back and win, and with there being a far greater chance of him being further up the pack tonight with a cleaner break, his turn of foot in the latter stages can once again be the determining factor over a trip which should also suit.