Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

THANK YOU NEXT (best price 12-1) may have not made too much of an impact in a listed prize at Doncaster last time out, but given her mid-race track position and overall speed figure of the contest, so actually ended up running a good deal better than the bare result and she’s taken to prove her performance 28 days ago was as good as the numbers suggest. 

Not good enough on the day the time before behind subsequent Group 2 winner Isabella Giles at Goodwood, the daughter of No Nay Never was understandably a big price in her bid to gain all-important black type on Town Moor a month later but if she hadn’t been drawn in the cheap seats towards the middle of the track, there’s more than a fair chance she would have justified her position in the line-up. That said, it was still a hell of an effort by Richard Hannon’s filly to get within striking distance of some high class colts, including subsequent Royal Lodge hero, New Mandate, and providing the ground at HQ isn’t too demanding for the first of their two-day fixture, she can go well in these much calmer waters.

Make no mistake this season’s renewal of the Fillies’ Mile is one heck of a contest, bringing together pretty much all the very best juveniles from the current generation and even though she’s likely to be underestimated in the market yet again, ISABELLA GILES (best price 11-2) is strongly fancied to cock a snoop at the layers and end her campaign in the best possible fashion. 

Beaten just the once in five starts, Clive Cox’s filly has been exemplary either side of that Ascot loss, and her latest two performances strongly suggest she’s continuing to improve at a rapid rate of knots. Despite racing with a choke out a touch in the early stages of her latest encounter over today’s course, she still found tons for pressure towards the backend and that attitude she displayed 14 days ago will hopefully see her to advantage on her return visit. Additionally, she’s already proven that soft ground is no barrier to success with her previous victory at Goodwood achieved in a fast time and with fact she’s the only course winner in today’s field likely to count for plenty, the daughter of Belardo can put it up to the formidable Irish battalions.

As it was last year, a race that has brought together pretty much all the best three-year-old middle-distance handicap form so far this season and despite the obviously-looking claims of Surrey Pride, he’s passed over on value grounds in favour of LOUGANINI (best price 9-1), who let’s not forget, thrashed the favourite when the pair met at Haydock back in July.

Now clearly Surrey Pride has improved immeasurably as the season has progressed and he may well have needed the run on his first start off the back of a break, but the fact still remains, the son of Zoffany is extremely better treated than his old rival despite there being nine lengths between them at the Merseyside venue, so it makes little sense why there should be such a big discrepancy in the betting. Additionally, Roger Charlton’s gelding arrives here as fresh as paint having not run since finding the fast ground all against him in a decent race at Sandown back in August and having already proven himself over the Rowley MIle on soft ground when absolutely bolting up on his debut just under a year ago, he clearly has more going for him than his morning odds suggest. 

BEARS HUG (best price 5-1) was given the perfect introduction to his racing life when a close-up third on his debut here two weeks ago and with just normal improvement, he seems likely to play a major role against similar opposition. 

Sent off 33-1 in what looked a very warm maiden on paper, full of juveniles who had plenty of track experience courtesy of recent barrier trials, the son of Kodi Bear more than held his own and if it wasn’t for a certain degree of greenness in the latter stages, he may have even bettered his final finishing position. Nicely drawn again on his return visit in stall six, hopefully Kevin Prendergast’s gelding can work himself into a decent early position and if so, his vital knowledge he gained on his initial outing should prove vital to his challenge this time around.

ALHAAZM (NAP) (best price 9-2) proved an instant hit on his first run back on the all-weather for current connections here three weeks ago and he still looks to be a feasible mark based on some of his previous efforts when trained by Sir Michael Stoute. 

Rated 82 at his best when based in the UK, the son of Cape Cross had dropped down to 69 when he arrived here 21 days ago and travelling nicely just in behind the speed down to halfway, he ended up staying on strongly all the way down the straight to take advantage of the assessor’s loosening of his vice-like grip. Although his victory at the Co Lough track came over seven-furlongs, it’s noticeable that most of his old form was over much further, so that gives out plenty of encouragement when he comes to tackle tonight’s extra furlong.

ALGHAZAAL (best price 9-1) only beat one horse home here a month ago, but had he got anything close to a clear run, the story may well have been different and he’s fancied to prove that theory correct on his return to the Co Lough venue. 

Well-backed to make a successful all-weather debut, Kevin Prendergast’s colt was still going well enough as the field turned for home, but just as he was about to make his challenge up the inside rail, he got the door slammed in his face. Where he would have finished it’s difficult to gauge, but as he was seemingly full of running and began his run at the same time as the eventual third Brinjal, it makes little sense why he has been chalked up four times the price as his old rival. Moreover, it’s also worth pointing out that the son of Teofilo ran an amazing race in one of the pivotal maidens of the entire season behind Tiger Moth at Leopardstown back in June. Last turning for home, the three-year-old chestnut ended up finishing on the coat tails of the likes of the Irish Derby runner-up, not to mention Dawn Patrol, Order Of Australia and Amhran Na Bhfiaan, who have all been big players in some top-quality pattern races later during the campaign. Clearly the fastest surface that day suited better than the soggy conditions he’s encountered since and despite tonight’s draw in stall 16 not exactly what the doctor ordered, at least over the longer run to the first corner over 1m4f will give him some sort of hope of slotting into the pack (Brinjal draw even worse in 17).