Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

MI LADDO (best price 4-1) is a little bit of a law unto himself, but at the same time, there’s no denying he has plenty of ability for a horse of his rating and while totally excepting that he probably does need things to go his way, he’s at least the sort of price that permits a confident each-way bet with most firms offering four places.

Given a confident ride when victorious at Taunton, similar hold-up tactics were employed at the West Country venue 12 days ago and it looked as though everything was going according to script on the run down to the last. Unfortunately, Milton Harris’ grey wandered around on the run-in and in doing so, he handed the advantage over to the strongly-finishing Balkardy who ended up picking his pocket close home. In hindsight, the son of Lilbourne Lad probably hit the front too soon, so with that in mind, today’s pilot, Mitchell Bastyan, will have to try and delay the waiting game until a little longer. Whichever way you strip in down, this in-form five-year-old has the sort of cruising speed that allows him to creep into the business without expending too much energy and he should, therefore, give his supporters a decent run for their money.

TIP TOP CAT (NAP) (best price 9-4) was produced with a timely challenge to go on and score for the first time over today’s course last time out and despite there being a slight concern about dropping back down in trip, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding is fancied to shove that impost to one side.

Receiving a ground-saving ride by Liam Harrison, the son of Milan arrived there at the last going as well as anything and just as though it looked as though he might not be able to seal the deal, he found plenty for pressure on the run-in to win going away. Clocking a decent overall time, the six-year-old also posted a heathy set of final circuit sectionals in comparison to the other three hurdle races on the same card and with the ability to handle today’s track combining with a surface similar to those seen a month ago, he rates a strong choice to repeat the dose.

GUNSIGHT RIDGE (best price 5-2) shaped as though two miles around Aintree was an insufficient test on chase debut last time out but now upped to a trip more in-keeping with his overall profile, Olly Murphy’s gelding can maintain the excellent run of his stable in the last two weeks (38% strike rate).

Despite winning over the minimum trip last season, suggesting he’s not short of speed, the six-year-old also ran two of his best races over 2m4f and on his final start at Market Rasen in March he was just unlucky to bump into a revitalised Prince Escalus. Returning to the fray following 227-day break, the son of Midnight Legend was a warm order to make a successful start to his new vocation and although he just came up a little short as far as winning the race was concerned, he must have pleased connections in plenty of departments. Just a little outpaced as the tempo increased coming out of the back straight and on the run down to two out, he ran on nicely after the last to close in on the front pair and with the winner, Darling Du Large, going on to score again since, the form looks fairly watertight. Considering he was also trying to get used to a first-time tongue-tie, his effort probably deserves extra praise, and with today’s opposition, other than L’Homme Presse, having a fairly exposed feel to their profiles, this lightly-raced type can start making a bigger dent in the chasing landscape.