Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LAWFUL COMMAND (best price 14/1) has already proven he has the stomach for big-field handicaps on several occasions this season and with his ability to handle today’s track also seen as a huge positive, Brian Meehan’s gelding can take advantage of the fact he just sneaked in at the bottom of the pile after looking all week like he was bound to miss out (was number 33 on the card at final declaration stage).

Back-to-back to victories over today’s C&D in the spring cemented the view he was a progressive three-year-old in the making and even though he has just come up short of the mark on his two outings since, you’d be hard pressed to suggest he’s taken a backward step given the overall standard of the opposition he’s been facing.

A creditable sixth in one of the hottest mile handicaps of the season at Royal Ascot, the son of Churchill impressed with the way he kept on gamely in the latter stages of another well-contest affair at Newmarket last time out and that willingness to battle on bravely at the end of his races has been one of the main features of his game in victory or defeat.

Not as good as his old rival Jimi Hendrix on the evidence of their last two encounters, he may have a better chance of the pair here today, however, due to his much more favourable draw and with a decent break from his inside pitch likely to see him towards the fore early doors, he can stay in the heat of the battle until the dying embers.

BOB’S BAR (NAP) (best price 11/4) readily accounted for Sea Prince at Worcester last time out and now racing at a track which definitely qualifies as a ‘home fixture’, Donald McCain’s gelding is strongly fancied to confirm the form with his old rival.

Successful on chase debut on his first start since a wind op, the son only time the son of Darsi has disappointed since the procedure came when not staying 2m5f on soft ground at Cartmel two outings ago. Back down in trip at the Midland venue last time out, he proved much more tractable when settled in behind the pace and that preservation of energy allowed him to come through strongly in the latter stages once the decent pace collapsed.

Similar to last time, there should be good gallop set up front courtesy of Sea Prince and Steady The Ship in the line-up and with the six-year-old having shown a distinct liking for today’s track several times in the past, anything other than a prominent display would come as something of a surprise.

ACCOMPLISHED (best price 14/1) shaped with a good deal of promise on her seasonal bow at Navan back in May and even though Ken Condon’s filly hasn’t been seen out since, she’s still fancied to outrun her morning odds back among her own sex.

Slow away and always in rear on her sole start at two, the Mastercraftsman filly was once again caught on heels on her seasonal bow at the Co Meath venue and, as a result, she found herself well behind as the field turned for home. 

She did, however, make up a huge amount of ground in a very short space of time to gather in the leaders at the furlong pole and even though she couldn’t quite see the job through all the way to the line, she did more than enough to suggest there are plenty of races to be won with her further down the line.

Whether that belief will come to fruition here today after a 97-day break is open to question but, on the pure ability she exhibited last time, there’s simply no way she has the right to be chalked as a 20-1 poke in a race that isn’t the strongest by any means.