Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Hamilton Dici could easily end up being a useful chaser further down the line, but as it stands now, MISTER MURCHAN (best price 3-1) holds a significant experience edge in the jumping department and around a track that test the technique of even the very best, Richard Rowe’s inmate is fancied to press home that advantage.

A proper National Hunt type, the son of Westerner has improved significantly since switching his attentions to fences and he didn’t have to wait too long before realising his potential with a win first time of the shelf at Fontwell. Jumping really well at the Sussex venue, he won in the style of a horse much better than his rating at the time (104) and he went on to prove that theory correct with another notable victory at Wincanton three starts later. Although not quite managing to justify his market position on his final two starts, the combination of heavy ground and, in particular, three miles in Class 3 company just found him out, but now back down in grade and over a track that should complement his jumping, the eight-year-old has ideal conditions to make a winning return. 

Not a bad novices’ hurdle of its kind with several intriguing runners due to go to post, but there’s no doubt MR JACKMAN (NAP) (best price 11-8) sets the standard courtesy of his C&D victory a month ago and hailing from a yard who has done really well with its UK raiders in recent times, John McConnell’s gelding can strike another blow for the Co Meath handler.

A dual bumper winner for Gordon Elliott, the five-year-old amazingly took five starts before he finally got off the mark over hurdles but in doing so, he arguably produced his best performance so far to date – certainly based on the numbers. Although there was only a small field here 27 days ago, the pace was decent right from the outset and when the front-running Camp Belan gave way on the approach to the last, the son of Flemensfirth didn’t need any second invitation to assume command. Scampering clear on the run-in, he felt his toiling rivals in his wake with a decent turn of foot and with the overall time figure pointing towards his effort being a pretty useful one, it’s no surprise connections are keen to come back to the Borders venue in a bid to repeat the dose. Having landed that prize on soft ground, today’s conditions should prove ideal and despite being up against the likes of C&D winner West End Girl, dual point scorer Crystal Glory and the potentially useful Here We Have It, Mr Jackman is strongly fancied to put his proven track form and fitness edge to good use. 

MR JACKMAN – 2-points win@7-4

BONNYRIGG (best price 10-3) has taken a while to find his feet since joining new connections from Andrew Balding’s stable, but with his last two performances delivering much more in terms of promise for the future, the son of Zoffany has the capabilities of going very close in this decent-looking a competitive handicap. 

Considering both his two best displays in the UK were over a mile, it’s been rather strange to see the three-year-old campaign over distances way short of his best – even five-furlongs – and it’s only just recently we are beginning to see him in his true light since upped in trip. A staying-on second in a hot handicap at Leopardstown over seven-furlongs two starts ago was backed up by another solid effort over tonight’s C&D last time and with the speed figure from that run a week ago by some the best furlong-per-furlong time on the eight-race card, his performance deserves upgrading. Sure to be all the better for his first attempt on an all-weather surface, Richard O’Brien’s gelding has a decent draw in order for him to make a big impact on his return to the Co Louth track.