Friday Racing Tips From Andy Holding

DAZY MAZY (best price 11/2) caught the eye with the way she finished off her race on debut at Thirsk and with the distinct probability she would have taken a huge step forward both mentally and physically following that initial performance, John Mackie’s filly can make a bigger impact second time around. 

In-keeping with her handler’s record with first-time-out juveniles, it was no surprise to see her sent off at 33-1 to make a winning start, and although those odds never really looked like being threatened in any way, she certainly ran a good deal better than market expectation.

Outpaced as the tempo increased at the Yorkshire venue, the daughter of Massaat stayed on nicely late on once the penny had dropped to finish on the coat tails of the main players and considering she also did all her good work on the slowest part of the track, her effort deserved to be upgraded.

Half-sister to a six-furlong winner, she should appreciate today’s extra furlong over a stiffer track and she’s fancied to reward the place part of the wager at the very least. 

BELL SHOT (NAP) (best price 3/1) ultimately just lacked the basic speed to fend off two improving sprinters when dropping back in trip at Windsor last time out, but now back over the same C&D that enabled him to notch up his first win of the season previously, Charles Hills’ inmate can get back on track. 

Gelded after success on his final outing as a two-year-old, the son of Dark Angel began the season in promising fashion when fourth in a tight little seven-furlong handicap at Newmarket and that initial outing allowed him to see out the trip better 51 days later on his first visit to today’s Berkshire venue.

A little isolated on the wing early, he raced keenly throughout, but that tendency to over race didn’t prevent him from repelling a whole series of challengers inside the final furlong as he went on to record a game victory. Although beaten in his bid to follow up 39 days ago, he did very little wrong over a trip that was clearly on the sharp side, but given that he should find today’s more serene surroundings of Class 4 company back over his optimum distance more suitable, he rates a strong choice at the morning odds. 

It’s difficult to split the front three in the betting in many respects as they all have plenty of upside, but as a result of their dominance in the market, there’s plenty of value to be had beyond the obvious starting points. 

COLD CASE (best price 25/1), for instance, is one who has been totally overlooked by the layers and when you have a closer look at his credentials, it’s easy to make a strong case out for him causing an upset. Promising on debut when his lack of experience told against the useful Carmela, Karl Burke’s colt was strongly fancied to back up the impression he created at Carlisle over today’s C&D next time out and in relishing the extra furlong, he made light work of nine rivals.

Once again sent off a warn favourite on his latest outing at Chester, the combination of the tight track and tacky ground on the Roodee counted against him in the final analysis, but at the same time, he still managed to come out of the contest with his reputation intact.

Looking at the time figure for that race 19 days ago along with his two previous endeavours, he comes out well on the numbers in comparison to some of the big players here today and with his invaluable experience of the Knavesmire likely to count for plenty, the son of Showcasing is worth sniffing around with some of the firms who are paying outing out on four and five places.

NEVER JUST A DREAM (best price 22/1) is another who qualifies for a similar each-way project on the basis of him being probably a good bit better than the bare form of his two races so far to date suggest. A total blowout when clearly expected to do a whole lot better on debut, Ismail Mohammed’s colt was sent to Wolverhampton last time out to contest what appeared quite a salty novice event on paper and this time he showed more of what he’s all about.

Drawn widest of all at the Dunstall Park venue, the son of No Nay Never, as he did on his initial outing, raced with plenty of enthusiasm during the early stages of the contest, but unlike at the Berkshire venue, the more controlled aggression he was able to apply to his game ended up being the dominant factor as he managed to maintain the strong gallop all the way to the line.

Now clearly that effort is far-removed from landing a Group 2 contest against several who have proven form at a higher level, but he does hail from a handler who knows what it takes to land a big juvenile race on the Knavesmire (Zain Claudette won the Lowther here last season) and at the morning odds, he’s worth a small interest to find out whether he’s good enough to pull off the giant killing act.

SHAMPION (best price 10/3) couldn’t have been any more impressive when getting off the mark at the third time of asking at Windsor last time out and with the feeling that she may just turn out to be quite well treated off an opening mark of 84, Roger Varian’s filly is strongly fancied to back up that view. 

Fitted with the hood on her first start for 227-days at Haydock a month ago, the daughter of Shamardal was noted travelling well just in behind her main market rival, Shaara, at the two-furlong pole, but unfortunately she just ran out of a bit of room at a crucial stage and by the time she’d been switched out wide to make her challenge, the eventual winner had flown.

Stepped up in trip when tackling a similar event last time out, she once again raced with plenty of natural zest, but this time she was able to get going in plenty of time and with a devastating run down the outside of the field, she stayed on much too strongly for her rivals to run out a pretty impressive four-length winner.

Time-wise, the race at the Berkshire venue came out best on the card and with today’s race likely to be run a tempo that will really suit this improving filly, a similarly patient ride to the one she’s received of late should enable her come through strongly to be a big player at the business end.