Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

TENAYA CANYON (best price 4-1) ran out a cosy winner of a competitive five-furlong contest at Haydock last time out despite drifting over to the far side rail and with the distinct likelihood of her having more in hand than the official margin suggested, Ed Walker’s filly is fancied to take another step forward.

Despite winning over six furlongs last season, her three attempts this term over the same trip hinted that she might be worth a crack at the minimum distance and as it turned out, that theory ended up being proved correct based on her display at the Merseyside venue. Noted going easily at the halfway stage, the daughter of Due Diligence was produced with her challenge soon after and despite drifting towards the far side rail, her impressive turn of foot to take her clear of her rivals proved decisive. Racing over a track today where her stalk-and-pounce tactics are likely to be seen to good effect, this unexposed and improving sprinter looks sure to give another solid account.

There’s always a chance the three-year-olds – mainly Classic Lord – could prove a step ahead of the handicapper at this stage of the season, but either way, both GENERAL ZOFF (best price 13-2) and DANCE TO PARIS (best price 8-1) bring solid C&D to the party courtesy of their recent clash and at the morning odds, they rate the value plays in this staying handicap.

In what turned out to be a well-run affair a month ago, the former just came out on top thanks to his power-packed finish down the outside and in pulling off what seemed an unlikely victory at halfway, he managed to run the final four furlongs quicker than both Dejame Paso and Betty Cream L A – two who won their respective races over shorter trips. Based on those findings, the six-year-old is clearly thriving at present and with the handicapper only seeing fit to raise his 3lb in the ratings, he’s been every chance to be competitive again on his return to the Esher slopes.

The latter did really well to hang as tough as she did considering she was on the sharp end of a strong pace throughout and on balance, she was probably unlucky to get picked off late on. A strong stayer over two miles on the all-weather, Lucy Wadham’s mare is clearly well suited by today’s stiff 1m6f and hailing from a stable who are pretty decent nick based on recent results, she’s another for whom a similar positive display beckons

O’REILLY’S PASS (best price 12-1) left the impression he would have gone close to winning here last time out and as he returns to the scene of that unlucky effort 10 days ago on the same mark, Ruth Carr’s gelding rates a reasonable bet at the morning odds.

Disappointing over shorter trips on his first four starts this season, the son of Australia was stepped up to 1m4f for the first time in a bid to revive his fortunes and had he received anything like a clear run at the Yorkshire track, there’s little doubt he would have gone close to winning. Despite using the theory of him being a possible winning without a penalty as a guide, he still has to go and prove himself in a better race against several in-form performers, including a lightly-raced three-year-old, but at the morning odds, he’s worth a roll of the dice.