Friday's Racing Tips from Andy Holding

The maiden won by Lady Alara here a month ago was noted for its strong speed figure and having shaped better than the bare result suggested that day, BONNY ANGEL (best price 9/1) makes quite a bit of appeal on her return to the Berkshire venue. 

By no means unfancied on her debut, Clive Cox’s filly unfortunately never gave her supporters much hope of collecting, but considering she ended up being switched on to the slowest part of the track and got stopped in her run at a crucial stage, to end up finishing a creditable seventh wasn’t a bad return in the circumstances. Likely to be more switched to what’s required on this time around, the daughter of Harry Angel is fancied to reward each-way support hailing from a yard just beginning to click back into gear again. 

NEW DEFINITION (best price 17/2) appeared to really appreciate the extra furlong her encountered at Kempton last time out and with the time figure of his victory 23 days ago very good for a juvenile, James Tate’s promising youngster can prove equal to today’s stiffer task.

Runner-up on his first two starts over the minimum trip, the son of Invincible Spirit was given a chance to race over six furlongs for the first time at the Sunbury venue and after tracking the strong pace set by the useful Explicit, he picked up the front runner in ready fashion before powering away all the way to the line. A two-year-old with a long stride and a decent attitude to match his ability, he appears to have been hugely underestimated in the market and deserves to be played accordingly. 

POETS MAGIC (best price 5/2) couldn’t quite cope with the natural speedsters over six furlongs around Chester last time out, but now racing back over her optimum trip, John Quinn’s mare rates a strong choice to take advantage of a drop back down in grade.

A convincing winner when making all around the Roodee previously, it was easy to see why connections were willing to roll the dice back at the same track a few weeks later, but as it turned out, the effort in trying to hold her position on the inside fence when going a stride or two faster than required just got her out of her comfort zone. Likely to be much better suited to today’s more gentile surroundings, the daughter of Poet’s Voice can prove a tough nut to crack from the front.

Sense Of Wisdom looked good when making a winning debut over today’s C&D last time out, but so too did CHASING APHRODITE (best price 6/1) on his opening bow at Leicester and at the morning odds, Harry Eustace’s colt makes far more appeal. 

Sent off 22-1 in what looked a strong race on paper beforehand, the son of Profitable always looked likely to defy his market weakness given how he travelled throughout the mile journey and when push came to shove inside the final two furlongs, he displayed real battling qualities to defend the advantage he’d held right from the home turn. A nice big powerful colt with a touch of class about him, it would be surprise if the three-year-old colt doesn’t have a bright future whatever his fate here this evening. 

SNAZZY JAZZY (best price 7/2) deserves plenty of praise for his sterling effort from a poor draw in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot last time out and now returning to the scene of his previous victory over today’s C&D, Lawrence Mullaney’s gelding has a decent opportunity to register career win number eight. 

As it turned out, stall 21 of the 29-strong field did the son of Red Jazz little favours, but the fact he managed to beat all bar one home of those who raced towards the nearside tells you more about his overall performance rather than his finishing position. Prior to that top-class display, the seven-year-old clocked a big number when landing a similar contest to the one he faces this evening and from a favourable middle draw (most of the winner tended to edge away from the nearside fence yesterday), it seems inconceivable that he won’t prove some sort of factor at the business end. 

REDARNA (best price 9/1) ran his absolute face off in a much tougher race than the one he faces here this evening and he rates a very strong choice at the morning odds at a track that should play into his strengths. 

Held up in the rear in the early stages at the Scottish venue, Dianne Sayer’s gelding made a swift move during the hottest part of the race to join the main players and even though he had to quicken again just to maintain touch with the eventual front two, he impressed with the way he kept on willingly to the task at hand. Considering his big, mid-race manoeuvre, the fact he didn’t drop away through the back of the TV suggests the eight-year-old still remains in the same sort of form that allowed him to capture the Thirsk Hunt Cup earlier in the campaign and having proven himself over a stiff mile many times in the past, it would be a little disappointing if the son of Aqlaam didn’t have a large say in the final outcome.