Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

NORTHERN EXPRESS (best price 5-1) has yet to race over today’s course, but he has a run style to strongly suggest he will be well-suited by the stiff nature of the track and with the booking of Jamie Spencer seen as a massive compliment to that viewpoint, Michael Dods’ gelding looks the one to be with at the morning odds.

Twice a winner in his nine-race career, the son of Zoffany has sometimes spoilt his chances by racing a little freely but since the hood has been applied, he seems to have become a shade more reliable. Indeed, his victory at York at York two starts ago was by some way his best performance on the speed figures and that display was a by-product of him being switched off at the rear in the early stages. Unsuited by a messy three runner affair on heavy ground at Haydock last time out, a return to a bigger field and faster ground will see him in a much better light and with the strong possibility that he will be covered up towards the rear before being delivered late – in-keeping with how most of the winners over the straight track here tend to execute their tactics – the three-year-old chestnut makes for an intriguing watch if nothing else.

The feature of the race won by Dazzling Darren at Down Royal last week was the extremely good speed figure for the grade and having shown up prominently in that well-run two-mile affair, KITTY GALORE (best price 9-2) and FEEL DES MOTTES (best price 5-1) make quite a bit of appeal racing at a track where they’ve both gone well in the past.

The former, in accordance with many from the John Ryan stable, goes really well around this tight, right-handed circuit and although she’s yet to win here, she has finished an honourable runner-up twice. Just getting picked off by Princely Conn in a similar heat to tonight’s back in July, the daughter of Aizavoski once again had her pocket picked at the Co Down venue this time last week and if it wasn’t for two extremely untidy leaps at the last two hurdles, she may have well made all. Although she does like to bowl along, one would hope connections have plan B up their sleeves with the likes of similarly front-running pair Mr Moondance and Reverse Polarity in the field and providing they can get the tactics right on the seven-year-old mare, she’s likely to put up another bold bid.

The latter could never quite get on terms in the aforementioned race seven days ago but he did more than enough to suggest he could get a little closer now he’s had that all-important run under his belt. Having his first outing for 106 days, Liz Doyle’s gelding was entitled to get a little leg weary in the closing stages and so it proved, as he could only keep on at the one pace from two out. Seen to better effect at Clonmel previously, the son of Feel Like Dancing had also gone really well around today’s track the time before (raced too freely after a break) and with his fitness levels now likely to be back to a reasonable state, he looks sure to make his presence felt in what should turn out to be another strongly run contest.