Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

TEGEREK (best price 9-2) temporarily appeared as though he might not consent to play ball down at the start of the Greatwood Hurdle over today’s course last time out, but once jumping off and engaging his mind on the job at hand he ran a career high to finish a creditable third in the best handicap at the season so far, and a repeat of something near that level can see him go close again on his return visit. 

A comfortable winner of a competitive contest at the previous meeting, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding proved a popular choice in the market for many in his bid to take his game to another level and although he failed to take home the big bucks, everything about his performance suggested he is still going in the right direction. Held up towards the rear 26 days ago, the son of Mount Nelson gradually worked his way into apposition whereby he could lay down a firm challenge but despite his pitch-perfect ride, he didn’t quite have enough to outstay both The Shunter or track specialist Ballyandy up the hill. That said, he kept on well enough to finish nicely clear of the rest and with today’s contest representing a whole two grades drop down in class, the progressive six-year-old should find life more compatible in his bid to get back in the winning groove. 

There’s a strong possibility that Captain Kangaroo will prove the best of today’s field long term, but there was also a slight element of disappointment about his performance on hurdling debut behind Gabynako and ENVIOUS EDITOR (best price 2-1) and Gordon Elliott’s gelding rates the value call to uphold the form from their Navan clash 20 days ago. 

In a race dominated by Gavin Cromwell’s impressive winner, the son of Aizavoski was the only one to offer any resistance to the short-priced favourite in the latter stages and while there was a strong possibility Captain Kangaroo may have needed the run, there was still the thick end of seven lengths between the pair at the line. Prior to that solid effort, the six-year-old had the misfortune to bump into the potentially smart Irascible at Clonmel and with the numbers from that race strongly suggesting he was staring down the barrel against a horse who is likely to make his presence felt in Graded company during the rest of the campaign, today’s contest should provide him with another decent opportunity to finally get off the mark. 

NEYLAND (best price 7-1) finally got her just rewards for a series of productive results with a game victory over today’s C&D last time out and with her confidence sufficiently boosted, she’s fancied to continue in the same vein in this similar contest.

Serving notice of brighter times ahead when a strong-finishing fourth from a bad beginning two starts ago, Patrick Martin’s mare once again put herself a little on the backfoot with another tardy break here 16 days ago, but this time she found the necessary pace down the home straight to overcome the deficit to score with a bit up her sleeve. Moreover, she ended up clocking the best furlong-per-furlong time on the eight-race card and considering she was running at the lowest level (rated 45), even a small rise in the ratings shouldn’t be enough to prevent her from being a massive player once more based on those findings.