Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

BLACK FRIDAY (best price 9-1) has been plying his trade at a much higher level of late, so bearing that in mind and also considering the last time he dropped into Class 4 company on heavy ground over today’s C&D resulted in a comfortable success, Mike Smith’s gelding makes plenty of appeal at his early morning odds.

Like many of his trainer’s horses, the son of Equiano seems to save most of his best form for the Scottish venue and other than one below-par effort on unsuitable fast ground in the Ayr Silver Cup two starts ago, his record here reads 54123114. Looking at his latest effort when fourth in a competitive handicap nine days ago, the six-year-old went as well as anything until running out of petrol over seven-furlongs, but even allowing for his length-and-a-half length defeat, his time figure still suggested he’d run to a pretty high standard. Winner of this race last season on heavy ground, clearly a well-run contest over six-furlongs with plenty of ease underfoot is more suitable and as there’s strong likelihood that he will end up being positioned in the favourable part of the track – certainly based on recent evidence – he makes for quite a tempting each-way proposition at the morning odds.

SERJEANT PAINTER (NAP) (best price 4-1) seemed to show improved form when presented with a soundly run environment at Stratford last time out and with conditions absolutely bob-on again for Ben Pauling’s gelding, a repeat bid looks very much on the cards.

Knocking at the door in three starts this summer since joining new connections, the son of Royal Applause had all the headgear removed at the Midland venue 49 days ago and that decision turned out to be an inspired one as he swept through in the closing stages to win in decent style. Additionally, his winning time figure was extremely good for the grade and with Jakamani going on to endorse the form with a convincing wide-margin victory since, the six-year-old looks to have done well to escape with just a 5lb hike in the ratings especially when you consider the runner-up is now nestled on 109 mark. With this in mind, he’s taken to win the battle of the potentially well treated joust with Gerard Mentor, who chased home the very easy Sedgefield scorer, Sergeant, at Newton Abbot last time out.