Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BLESS HIM (best price 9-1) isn’t one for those with a dodgy ticker, even more so with Jamie Spencer on board, but there’s no doubt he has a bucket load of ability and, likely to be given a typically patient ride by his regular pilot who knows his quirks well, David Simcock’s mercurial character can put his invaluable track experience to good use.

If you go back to his earlier days, his victory in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot intimated he was always liking to be seen to best effect over a stiff, strongly run straight track mile, and by and large that’s pretty much how his career has panned out in terms of all his better performances. A winner on his first attempt over today’s C&D just over a year ago, the eight-year-old managed to follow up that success last month despite concerns about dropping back down in trip and that effort went along way to suggest the son of Sea The Stars still possess plenty of natural ability and verve for a horse of his age. Not quite good enough for Palace Pier’s of this world nowadays, he still, however, is more than capable at this sort of level and with today’s pace likely to be fairly healthy with both Tempus and Imperial Sands in the line-up, his patience at the rear of the field can be rewarded if delivered at the right time at the business end.

AMBER ISLAND (best price 5-1) ran really well against the boys in a hot Class 2 handicap at this meeting last season and, with that performance going a long way to bolster her overall record over today’s C&D, another positive display should be forthcoming from David Loughnane’s mare.

Although she has run okay over a mile, all her best form has taken place over a furlong shorter and that excellent display behind Lord Of The Lodge twelve months ago – her first visit here for current connections – was also backed up by a career-high effort on the clock. A dual winner since, including one back at the Surrey venue two months ago, a decent spin at Wolverhampton recently suggests the daughter of Exceed And Excel remains in good form and there appears no obvious reason why she won ‘t go well again with plenty of positives in her favour.

PREJUDICE (best price 10-1) probably doesn’t have the same long-term potential of the likes of Trawlerman or Indigo Jones, but he does have fitness and experience of today’s deep surface on his side and those advantages may be enough to bring him closer together than his position in the market suggests.

Although he’s been plying his trade at a lower level of late, it wasn’t too long ago he was mixing it with the likes of Solid Stone and Audarya in quality Class 2 events, so it’s not as if he doesn’t know how to handle himself against better opponents. It’s also worth pointing out his time figures come out very well compared to several ahead of him in the betting today and with at least two of them coming on an all-weather surface, there’s enough in his favour to warrant an interest at double-figure odds.

TOTALLY CHARMING (best price 7-2) has left the impression that he’s a good bit better than what we’ve seen of him on his last two starts and with today’s potentially strong pace over a mile likely to play into his strengths, George Boughey’s gelding is fancied to confirm that view.

Impressive at Kempton on his first start for current connections, the son of Charming Thought was a warm order to back up that initial display at Southwell next time, but unfortunately for his supporters he was in for a rude awakening as he faced a determined opponent in the shape of Lammas, who was just too good on the day. Too keen for his own good in a steadily run 1m2f contest here last time, he still ran well despite things not panning out in his favour, but with the strong possibility of today’s race being a good deal more suitable in terms of pace and trip, the progressive four-year-old can prove that he remains potentially well treated.