Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

A tricky card which should be treated with a degree of caution, but this 6f sprint rates a must play race due to the generous placed terms offered by the bookmakers.

First name down on the team sheet is EXALTED ANGEL (best price 6-1) who makes plenty of sense as a strong each-way play following his convincing success over today’s C&D last time out. Better known for his exploits over the minimum trip, Karl Burke’s gelding was asked to stretch out over six furlongs for the first time at the Surrey track and he answered the call in pretty convincing style, staying nicely in the latter stages to wear down the front-running Fizzy Feet. Sometimes a little sluggish out of the gates, obviously he will need to break well again to replicate the form he showed 55 days ago, but providing he’s alert in that particular department, another solid display looks on the cards.

Just in case he doesn’t hit the lids, it’s probably a wise move to have another ace up your sleeve to play and the other to arouse interest is the classy LAMPANG (best price 15-2).

Very lightly-raced, the four-year-old has rather had a mixed bag of performances over the winter all-weather period, but there’s no doubt his best effort came when he finished a creditable runner-up to the smart Good Effort over today’s C&D back in November. Since then, things haven’t gone the way of Tim Easetrby’s gelding, but It’s hoped that a returned to a track that clearly suits his run style will bring about a change in fortunes and at the morning prices with four and even five places on offer, he should be good enough to make the frame at the very least.

There’s no denying bookmakers haven’t taken any chances with DILIGENT HARRY (NAP) (best price 15-8), but it’s easy to see why a degree of respect is afforded Clive Cox’s gelding and if any there’s to be one of today’s field likely to take their game to another level future down the line, he’s the one who stands out.

Impressive on his first two starts when making pretty much all the running, unfortunately the son of Due Diligence went and missed the break on his stiffest test so far to date over today’s C&D last time out and it meant he was always slightly behind the eight ball throughout. He did, however, recover and finish off his race in the sort of style to suggest he would have probably won with a bit to spare with a cleaner break and that theory can hopefully come to fruition on his return to the Surrey venue here this afternoon.

Arguably, the most complex race on the entire card, but there’s every chance that TOTAL COMMITMENT (best price 8-1) will run his race at the very least and he rates the percentage each-way call at the morning prices.

A super consistent and likeable five-year-old that simply adores today’s track, his form figures read an impressive 22222123 and with three of those results coming over this afternoon’s C&D, it would be slightly disappointing if he couldn’t keep that stats intact. On the latest outing here 16 days ago, things didn’t quite work out in his favour as he got pinned down on the inside rail in a slowly run that wouldn’t have played into his strengths, but with today’s better drawn and likely stronger pace to suit, everything should set up nicely for Simon Hodgson’s gelding to perform at maximum capacity.