Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

COLLEGE OAK (best price 7/2) has looked a totally different proposition since fitted with blinkers and this seemingly revitalised character is taken to follow up his latest victory at Stratford in this similar contest. 

A winner of a bumper and two novice hurdles during the 2019/20 season, Jamie Snowden’s gelding has had a rather patchy profile since, but following the decision to fit him with a change of headgear, results have taken on a much more positive vein. Nailed in the dying strides at Ffos Las two starts ago, the son of Norse Dancer soon got that disappointment out of his system when making all the running at the Midland venue 24 days ago and with the speed figure revealing it was a decent performance for the grade, confidence is high he can repeat the dose around a track where he’s enjoyed a bit of success in the past.

AL AZHAR (NAP) (best price 5/2) was totally unsuited by how things panned out in a slowly run affair at Salisbury last time out and he’s strongly fancied to put matters right in a race where they are sure to go a decent clip. 

A progressive stayer this term, the son of Invincible Spirit has been seen to really good effect on the two occasions where his stamina was called into to play, so the fact they went no gallop in a three-runner affair at the Wiltshire venue last time out is ample excuse for his demise. Very strong in all departments in a much truer test at Newbury previously, Marcus Tregoning’s gelding posted the sort of numbers that will make him hard to beat here this afternoon with any amount of luck in running and with Ryan Moore seen as a huge plus in taking over from Hayley Turner, he’s rates the value call to win the battle of the three-year-olds in this all-age handicap.  

DANZAN (best price 9/1) is by no means a prolific winner, but he has a strong enough body of work over today’s C&D to suggest that he should reward each-way support at the very least and he deserves to be played accordingly. 

A wide draw rather derailed his chance on his return to the Knavesmire back in May, but he was soon back in the groove with a more positive outcome over the same C&D just over a week later. Dropped back down to six-furlongs here last time out, Tim Easterby’s gelding kept on really strongly in the closing stages to finish a close-up third behind in-rom Good Earth and although that effort went a long way to boosting his overall record at the track, it was a display which still left the impression he requires further to be seen to best advantage. The other positive to be drawn is his pilot that day, Sean Kirrane, is able to retain the ride in this apprentice handicap and with the likes of Eeetee and Liamarty Dreams two obvious candidates to force a decent pace, the son of Lawman should get the perfect platform to perform to his best.

HAZY MEHMORY (best price 5/2) took a huge step forward from her opening gambit at Gowran last time and with the anticipation of even more to come, Ger Lyons’ filly is going to be extremely hard to beat. 

Still last turning for home on her first start at the Co Kenny venue back in May, the daughter of Mehmas finished off her race with a good deal of encouragement to be a never-nearer ninth, and with the likes of One For Bobby, Red Azalea, Gradulations, Galleria Borghese and Ha Ha Ha all going on to score subsequently, it’s quite clear she pretty well against some smart fillies.

Back to the scene of that promising display three weeks later, her overall performance levels went up several notches and this time she managed to finish a creditable runner-up to a horse who, in the shape of Flying Dolphin, went on to finish a creditable fifth at Royal Ascot. Once again very strong towards the backend of the contest, she shaped as though she will probably need a much stiffer test in time, and with tonight’s extra yardage providing her with ample opportunity to back up that view, she’s fancied to keep the excellent run of her stable going in the right direction. 

The two three-year-olds, Judith and Poptronic, were always likely to draw attention to many given their lightly-raced, progressive profiles, but despite their presence, the solid one is ACHELOIS (best price 5/2) and she rates the percentage call at the prices following her quality effort in the John Smith’s Cup over today’s C&D. 

A bit disappointing when strongly fancied in a listed race at Ayr, the daughter of Zoffany was given a 52-day break to recover from whatever was ailing her that day and based on her performance on the Knavesmire two weeks ago, she looks to be back to her best. In a typically well-contested and strongly-run affair, Andrew Balding’s filly stayed on a very game fashion inside the final furlong to get within half-a-length of the well-supported winner and with her time figure pushing its way towards the top of pile during her career, she clearly arrives here in the form of her life.