Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

HOLYMACAPONY (best price 15-8) looks to be another potentially top-class prospect off the Henry De Bromhead production line and, despite today’s task being a whole different ball game in terms of opposition to those he faced for his maiden hurdle win at Punchestown, he’s still fancied to come through with flying colours.

Impressive in a point at Kirkistown, the son of Libertarian made his rules debut for new connections at the Co Kildare venue a month ago and having led going best three from home, he gradually worked his way clear of his rivals to score in the manner of a very useful stayer. Moreover, the time figure he produced very much backed up the visually impression of the display and with the strong possibility of even more to come, this relentless galloper should be in his element under the prevailing conditions around today’s stiffer track.

IT COULD BE YOU (best price 12-1) has hit the jackpot twice in his last three starts (fell while still bang in contention in between times at Punchestown) and he looks overpriced in his bid to keep his fine run of form going in the right direction.

Off the mark at the seventh attempt in a bumper at Fairyhouse back in October, he was just moving his way through the field when disaster struck at the third last at the Co Kildare venue next time, but quickly dusting himself down, he got back in the saddle and made amends in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel on his most recent outing. Whether he would have beaten Feelgood Island had he stayed on his feet at the second last is open to debate, but either way, that horse went on to boost the form with a comprehensive win at Down Royal yesterday, so it still looks a fair effort whichever way you strip in down. Good on the numbers at the Co Tipperary track even allowing for the fact he may have a shade fortunate, Thomas Mullins’ grey appears to have been given a fair chance by the assessor off a perch of 123 for his handicap debut and he’s worth playing according to back up that view in what looks a competitive affair.

LLANDINABO LAD (best price 15-4) may have caused a minor shock at Haydock last time out, but there was no fluke about the performance based on the time figure involved and hailing from a stable that is arguably one of the hottest in the country right now, Tom Symonds’ gelding is fancied to pull off another giant killing act.

Impressing with the manor of his victory over several useful novices such as subsequent winners, Minella Drama and Guard My Dream, at Bangor on hurdling debut, the son of Malinas was pitched into a higher grade at the Merseyside venue last time out to see whether he could cut the mustard and boy, did he answer every call. In what turned out to be a very strongly run affair 27 days ago, the five-year-old chestnut stayed on extremely bravely in the latter stages when the pace collapsed and he ended up putting daylight between himself and some highly-touted novices who had already shown a fair level of form in good early-season events. Clearly a strong stayer at the trip, his stamina will count for plenty when the chips are down meeting the hill in the home straight and, as a result, he rates the clear value pick at the morning odds.

The song WONDERWALL (NAP) (best price 11-4) by Oasis will go down in history as one of the best singles never to make number 1 in the UK charts (kept off the top by Robson and Jerome) but the horse of the same name luckily didn’t suffer from the same fate - as his victory over today’s C&D on debut proved – and he’s fancied to put that valuable track knowledge to good use under similar conditions to those he faced 27 days ago.

Clearly strongly fancied to go well on his debut here a month ago, the race in question looked an above-average on beforehand with so many highly-regarded in opposition, but as it turned out, Richard Spencer’s gelding proved equal to the task in justifying his position in the market. Always moving well at the Berkshire venue, the son of Yeats swung widest of all to make his challenge after the wings of the second last hurdle and despite the attentions of Hamilton’s Fancy late on, he kept on in determined fashion to claim the prize. Clocking one of the fastest times recorded for a bumper on these shores so far this season, the powerfully-built four-year-old clearly has a big engine to match his physique, and even though he faces several who have already posted notable successes on the board, it will take a decent effort by one of them to lower his colours.