Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CAPTAIN ROSE (best price 7-1) shaped with conspicuous promise in the race won by stablemate Trelawne (runs in the 1.45) and with that initial experience unlikely to be lost on Kim Bailey’s inmate, he could easily turn out to be the joker in the pack. 

Sent off 33-1 at the West Country venue, clearly nothing big was expected of the son of Telescope, but as it turned out, he ran way better than his position in the market. Settled just in behind the pace, the five-year-old still held every chance at the third last, but it was from this point he started to struggle and in the end he could only gallop on at the one pace to finish fifth. Although getting beaten the thick of 30 lengths didn’t seem that impressive at the time, the numbers from that novices’ hurdle suggested it was an exceptionally good one of its kind, especially when you compare the overall time figure and final circuit sectionals to the listed race won by Lac De Constance half an hour later. Using several horses out of both races as a guide, he probably ran to something around the 120 mark, so providing he’s capable of something in around that level on his return to the same course, it’s not too bold of a statement to suggest it would be slightly disappointing if he couldn’t make the frame at the very least in this similar heat. 

LONGSHANKS (best price 2-1) is still awaiting his first victory over fences, but with today’s contest the easiest he’s faced so far to date by some way, there’s every chance Philip Hobbs’ gelding will be rewarded for several high-profile efforts. 

Looking back at his run here in December behind L’Homme Presse (now rated 159) and Gunsight Ridge (134), the son of eight-year-old did remarkably well to keep tabs on two horses who have genuine aspirations of Cheltenham Festival glory and when you also consider he now races off a 7lb lower mark, it makes him an even more appetising proposition down in Class 4 company. Moreover, his latest effort at Ffos Las also reads well on the figures and with the general consensus that he’s beginning to shed some of his babyish tendencies, today looks like the day when he finally comes of age. 

ZAIN SARINDA (best price 15-8) exhibited many qualities when scoring over tonight’s C&D last time out and there appears to be no obvious reason why Tom Clover’s colt won’t go very close to adding to that success on his return visit.

Promising on his debut in a hot contest at Kempton, the son of Churchill was heavily supported to back up the impression he created on his second start and despite having to work extremely hard to land the gamble, he ultimately got the job done in pretty tidy fashion. In turning away Base Note and Grand Alliance, he beat two horses who have both gone on to advertise the value of the form and with the prospect of even more to come a distinct possibility, the scopey three-year-old can continue his way up the ladder.