Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

STRAWBERRY BELLE (NAP) (best price 7/2) has yet to register a win in four starts to date but, with all of her performances at a level whereby you’d have to say she’s done very little wrong, Patrick Owens’ filly has to come into the reckoning for a raced of this nature. 

Runner-up to the potentially very smart Mischief Magic at Newmarket two starts ago, the form has subsequently been given a big boost with the winner going on to land a Group 3 at Kempton and the daughter of Adaay went on to do her own bit for the race next time out back over the same C&D.

Up against many who had already shown a fair level of form in pattern company, she more than held her own by finishing a close-up fourth and with the time figure strongly hinting it was fair race of its type, the fact that she, along with the first three, pulled well clear of the rest points towards her effort being easily her best so far to date.

Still only rated 77 despite that sterling display, she also has a strong piece of C&D form to call on courtesy of her promising debut third from a poor draw (18 of 18) and with her ability to handle some give underfoot proven, she rates a confident choice to finally and deservedly get off the mark. 

It’s hard to be too dogmatic about the draw on the evidence of what we witnessed here yesterday, but at the same time, being drawn low certainly isn’t a disadvantage and that’s good news regarding the chances of ADMIRALITY (best price 11/1), who knows more than a thing or two about these kind of races over the years.

Sixth in the Silver Cup back in 2019, Roger Fell’s gelding was then runner-up in the same race a year later and for good measure, he was placed in both his two efforts over seven furlongs at this meeting last season.

A winner on his first start to this campaign, the eight-year-old has performed with plenty of credit without winning since and his latest effort over five furlongs against subsequent Great St Wilfred hero Intrinsic Bond has to go down as a pretty decent show over a trip short of his best.

Back over his optimum distance with plenty of pace around him, the son of Mount Nelson has the combination of speed and stamina to figure at the finish. 

SAM COOKE (best price 5/1) left the impression he just about got away with the ground when scoring at Newmarket last time out and now returning to a surface that has to be deemed a good deal more suitable, Ralph Beckett’s gelding can go close to following up. 

A promising fourth over the July Course back in the height of summer, the son of Pour Moi was well backed on his return to the same C&D a month later and, having settled nicely in the rear, he came through with a well-timed challenge to get up close home.

Although that race didn’t break any record on the clock, the six-year-old has posted plenty of solid numbers in the past when the pace has been a good deal stronger and a repeat of his effort over today’s course when runner-up to Injazati this time last season should be good enough to see him bang on the premises once again. 

CABINET MAKER (best price 9/2) may have finished last of 14 on his most recent outing over today’s C&D, but that wouldn’t have occurred had he received anything like a clear run and with an overall record at the Sunbury venue to suggest that performance is probably worth forgetting, Charlie & Mark Johnston’s gelding is fancied to redeem his reputation. 

Having form figures of 311 over the C&D prior to attempting to land the London Mile Series 13 days ago, it was easy to see why he was one of the market leaders to take home the valuable prize, but as it turned out, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong for the son of Mastercraftsman.

Noted going well as the field went past the intersection, it was from that point onwards the three-year-old grey saw no daylight whatsoever and although it’s impossible to say with any degree of confidence where he would have finished, there’s a strong possibility he would have had some say in the eventual outcome.

Often slowly into stride, there is always an element of risk attached to his chances, but providing he manages to navigate a passage whereby he sees a bit more daylight than last time, there’s every chance he can make amends.

SPIRITUOSO (best price 7/2) arrives here in terrific nick based on recent evidence at Navan and with some of her better previous performances coming over tonight’s C&D, Les Smyth’s filly is likely to continue her upward trajectory. 

Staying on extremely strongly once meeting the rising ground at the Co Meath venue, the daughter of Charm Spirit pulled readily clear to the tune of five lengths and with the speed figure going a long way to back up the visual aspect of the performance, it’s little wonder the assessor wasn’t best pleased either.

A solid runner-up in a similar race to the one she faces this evening here previously, the four-year-old would have to do something opposite to her general trends not to figure on her return visit.