Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

BEAT THE JUDGE (best price 11-2) did remarkably well to finish as close as he did considering a two-miles around here that wasn’t without mishap and with today’s slightly smaller field likely to help him plot a smoother course, Gary Moore’s gelding is fancied to build on his first attempt over these fences.

A smart handicap hurdler, good enough to finish a creditable eighth in the County Hurdle at the festival, the son of Canford Cliffs appears to have transferred all his talent to his new discipline and there could be more still to come based on the evidence of his most recent display. Taking a while to find his feet in a similar race to today’s over the C&D at the Showcase meeting, the five-year-old then proceeded to get badly hampered by a faller at the one at the top of the hill, but that didn’t prevent him from finishing his race off best of all in the final half a mile. Staying on strongly up the hill, he left the impression he would have finished a good second to the easy winner Rouge Vif, and a repeat of the same level of form should see him a major contender on his return visit.

CHANTING HILL (NAP) (best price 15-8 posted some smart figures for the grade when making a successful start to life over fences at Kelso 20 days ago and hailing from a stable who are just beginning to tick over nicely in the last few weeks, Nick Alexander’s mare should easily be up for winning a race of this nature back among her own sex.

Outpaced and midfield at halfway in what was a very strongly-run affair at the Borders venue, the daughter of Milan really began to engage in the latter part of the contest and by the time she’d landed on the run-in, her momentum carried her past several toiling rivals. On the evidence of that victory and her previous point win, stamina is clearly her number one asset and with today’s track likely to see her in an even better light than whizzing around the tight bends of Kelso, the six-year-old can go in again.

ONE TRUE KING (best price 9-2) caught a tartar in the shape of the well-backed Tegerek over today’s C&D at the previous meeting here a month ago but, in turn, he did finish well clear of the rest and despite the steadier of top weight, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding is expected to play another prominent role.

A creditable tenth in the Champion Bumper here back in March when he had one of today’s main rivals, Panic attack, well behind, the son of Getaway has made a decent start to his career over hurdles and following a convincing success at Uttoxeter when he made all the running, he stepped up on that effort with a brave performance on his handicap debut. Despite his lack of experience, the chestnut jumped and travelled well throughout and with he, along with the winner, nicely away from subsequent winner Wild Max, the form looks good enough to ensure he commands the utmost respect in this similar heat.

PURE NATURE (best price 11-2) did this column a nice favour by landing a tickle here last time out and there appears no reason to desert Ado McGuinness’ in-form filly on her return to her happy hunting ground.

A smooth winner of her previous start at the Co Lough venue, the daughter of Dansili was in a much deeper race a month later and despite a tardy start resulting a poor early track position, she still proved too good for her rivals. Showing a smart turn of foot in the final three furlongs, the three-year-old came from virtually last to first in a short space of time and with a better break this time around, a nice ground-saving run around the inside show set herself up for another power-packed finish down the lane.