Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

BADDESLEY (best price 11-2) shaped pretty well after a long layoff at Fontwell last time out and with the time figure and form of the race at the Sussex venue already beginning to take shape, Chris Gordon’s gelding is fancied to go better than his morning odds suggest. 

The son of Presenting has clearly had his problems, hence the big gaps between his races, but when he does get to the racetrack, his performances have been of a fair standard. A winner of a bumper at Fontwell on his second start, the six-year-old ran well in his bid to land another at Wincanton next time out and it was at that point when some sort of issue must have taken place because we didn’t see him for 617 days. Returning to action in a decent novice hurdle 28 days ago, he held every chance racing off the home turn but by the time he’d jumped the second, it became clear his long absence began to take its toll and eventually had to settle for a minor role behind the impressive winner, Zacony Rebel. As mentioned, the form has already begun to work out well with the runner-up landing a competitive handicap back at the same track next time and with conditions just about ideal here this afternoon, hopefully, he can take advantage of the fitness edge he has on some of his main market rivals.

RED LACEWING (best price 13-2) posted a big speed figure when accounting for a useful field of juveniles on her second start and with the distinct prospect of even more to come over today’s extra furlong, Fozzy Stack’s raider can make the journey over the Irish Sea worthwhile. 

Eye-catching at Navan on debut when coming from some way off the pace to finish a never-nearer third in a maiden which subsequently worked out well, the daughter of No Nay Never was sent to Naas a month later in a bid to get off the mark and, despite it not looking likely at one stage, she duly obliged. Towards the rear early and unable to go with the helter-skelter pace set by Orinoco River, she took plenty of time to find her stride, but by the time the race developed in earnest she finished her race off best of all to come charging through to claim the spoils close home. Clocking a big speed figure for a maiden, she left the impression she was a pattern filly in-waiting and with connections clearly biding their time until the right race came along, today’s contest looks well within her capabilities based on latest evidence. 

RICKY LANGFORD (best price 13-2) has maintained a solid level of form throughout the summer jumping period and with his latest exploits at Punchestown suggesting Philip Rothwell’s gelding is showing no signs of stopping his progress, he rates a cracking each-way proposition at a track where he’s already enjoyed quite a bit of success. 

Better known for his exploits over hurdles, the seven-year-old did make an impact on just his fourth start over fences at Ballinrobe a month ago and given the manner of display at the Mayo venue, it certainly won’t be the last. Always travelling well that day, the son of Alkaadhem breezed to the front on the approach to the last and in no time at all, he was soon in an unassailable lead. Clearly at home over two miles with plenty of ease underfoot, today’s conditions should prove ideal and having proven his current wellbeing with another solid effort over hurdles last time out, a return to the larger obstacles around a track that should suit makes him firmly into the ‘overpriced’ category.

SHARP DISTINCTION (best price 3-1) created a really favourable impression on his debut over tonight’s C&D earlier this month and with just normal improvement, Bryan Smart’s gelding is strongly fancied to prove a more potent force the second time around. 

Having his first taste of a racing environment 28 days ago, the chestnut colt was extremely slow to learn in the early stages on a well-contest maiden but by the time he’d hit the line, there was more than enough promise to be gleaned to suggest he would be a totally different proposition next time out. Indeed, his closing sectional of 36.3 was the fastest of the 14-strong field and with a better draw and hopefully more alert beginning on his return to the Sunbury venue, he can put that kind of speed to better use. 

HIGHTOWN HEIGHTS (best price 8-1) and AKHLAAQ (best price 17-1) featured heavily in a very strongly run 1m2f claimer here two weeks ago and with the form unsurprisingly working out as well as thought it might, there’s no reason why both can’t make some sort of impact off their respective marks back in handicap company. 

The former, indeed, has already done his own bit for the form by scoring here last week and given that he showed enough speed to outpoint the well-fancied and in-form, Sister Lola over seven-furlongs, bodes well for his chances over a furlong further here tonight. Despite being significantly up in the ratings, his victory over that 80-rated horse suggests he might be capable of being competitive again. 

The latter has been a bit hit and miss of late, but as he showed here two weeks ago he’s more than capable of going well when the pace is hot. Noted going well turning for home, Tony Martin’s gelding stayed on as honest as the day is long down the outside all the way down the straight only to find his stablemate, Firstman, just too good in the dying strides. Given the way he travelled that night and all his other previous best form, tonight’s mile trip should suit better and from a good inside draw, he looks to be overpriced based on that evidence.