Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

QUINTA DO MAR (best price 4-1) has been pretty resounding in both of his two victories this season and even though Ben Pauling’s gelding will have to improve again to take care of today’s field, there’s every chance he will prove equal to the task.

A progressive novice hurdler last season, there were time when he came up just short of the mark, but of what we’ve seen of him so far this term, he appears a much tougher and reliable character. Scoring with the minimum fuss on his seasonal bow at Carlisle, the way he simply laughed at his rivals at Fontwell last time out was something to behold and even though he was heavily eased, a 31 length winning margin in no way flattered the son of Califet. Although he ran well enough over 2m4f over today’s course last season, he appears better suited by racing over the minimum trip and with a run style that should allow him to track the pace going down to the second last, hopefully, his stamina for the long run to the last and up the hill will come in handy.

Connections of MISTER FOGPATCHES (best price 5-1) would have probably been praying for the rain to keep away more than most in the build-up to today’s race and with their wishes seemingly granted, the seven-year-old grey looks to have a fine chance of making the journey over the Irish Sea pay. 

A game third in last season’s Scottish National as only a six-year-old, Pat Fahy’s gelding has clearly got an abundance of stamina in his locker for one so young and that willingness to battle when the chips are down were seen to good effect last time out in the Troytown at Navan, when he kept on well in the final half a mile to finish a creditable third to the very smart stayer, Run Wild Fred. Filling out the same position in the equally gruelling Cork National Trial previously, the son of Fairly Ransom did well to get anywhere near the places that day from where he was at halfway and providing he takes an instant shine to today’s course on his first visit, a big run is anticipated from this likeable and consistent character.

SISTER LOLA (best price 11-2) has easily been the big success story of the winter campaign so far and even though in an ideal world she could probably do with an extra furlong, she still commands enough respect of this writer to risk a small few quid on her morning odds.

Picked up by new connections after winning a claimer over seven-furlongs back in September, James McAuley’s mare has run no fewer than ten times since, and by and large she’s always run her race. Working her way up from a mark of 67 to 85, her latest victory here two starts ago suggests she isn’t quite finished just yet and based on that performance against six of tonight’s opponents, there’s simply no way she should be as dismissed in the betting as she is. Set her toughest assignment so far to date here last week, the daughter of Slade Power ran about as well as could be expected over a trip that just blunted her finishing kick but she still came out of the race with great credit and it was an effort that suggests she remains in excellent heart. Back two furlongs on her return to the Co Lough venue, the four-year-old is expected to be some way behind at halfway – where she normally finds herself – but it’s from that point onwards when she engages top gear and her power-packed finish is likely to see her run on into the frame at the very least.