Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

With the stalls being situated on the far side this afternoon, the first race will be a good guide as to where you want to be on the track (Prince Of Pillo has the prime spot to make all), so providing the low numbers, as expected, come out on top, CRYSTALLIUM (best price 7/2) should be in a decent position throughout in order to preserve her unbeaten record. 

Impressive when making a winning debut at Chelmsford, Tom Clover’s filly was asked to tackle a tougher race at Newbury last time out and in what turned out to be a true test at the trip, she came through with flying colours.

Capable of going the strong early pace set by Wyoming, the daughter of Expert Eye exhibited a fine attitude to run down her prey in the closing stages and with the post-race data speaking very in favour of her performance – not to mention the subsequent form - she thoroughly deserved a crack at some black type. Drawn right next to the likely pace setter, Rage Of Bamby, over on the far rail, this scopey juvenile has the necessary qualities to go close if handling the dip. 

As expected, a wide open-looking contest for the middle-distance three-year-olds and both LA YAKAL (best price 7/2) and THUNDERING (best price 12/1) have the credentials to feature heavily at the business end. 

The former has really thrived since being stepped up in trip and his latest victory at Ascot was a massive step in the right direction, class-wise. The way he hit the line to run down two rivals who obtained first run was a sign of a smart performer and with the form already taking shape with the fourth winning a big handicap subsequently, William Haggas’ gelding has a decent chance of following suit.

The latter never featured in a similar handicap to today’s at Haydock last time out but, as the race wasn’t run to suit, there’s every chance he will bounce back granted a stronger gallop. Held up towards the rear at the Merseyside venue, he always looked like he might be hostage to fortune if the race developed into a bit of dash for home off the final bend and true to form, that’s exactly how things materialised for the son of Night Of Thunder.

However, he did catch the eye with the way he finished off his race inside the final two furlongs – just as he did at York previously - and with the form lines of most of his races this term suggesting he’s on a similar footing with quite a few of today’s rivals, there’s no way he should be considered as one of the outsiders. 

Money Heist landed a bit of punt when finally realising his potential at Galway on Tuesday but, as he did jump sloppily on occasions and only just scrambled home, one of the value each-way alternatives against him, L’OR DES ROSES (best price 12/1), might just prove a safer option. 

Promising on his first two starts under rules, this former pointer made even greater strides forward on his third visit to today’s track last time out and although it may not look like he did to the casual observer, the speed figure tells a totally different story.

Unable to go with the main players from two out, he did, however, stay on quite willingly to keep the losing margin down to respectable distance and with the experience he’s gained at the Co Down venue likely to count for plenty, the son of Lord Du Sud should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least.

VIA SISTINA (best price 22/1) shaped with a distinct amount of promise on her first run for 294 days at Windsor two months ago and with the strong possibility that she would have benefitted from her stable switch in the interim, the daughter of Fastnet Rock is no forlorn hope to replicate her previous C&D win. 

Incredibly impressive when landing that competitive fillies’ handicap this time last year, the four-year-old went on to prove a bitter disappointment on her final start at Doncaster a month later, presumably not handling the very testing conditions as well as expected.

Moved on to George Boughey when Joseph Tuite retired, the Newmarket handler has inherited a filly whose latest effort came in a very strongly run listed affair 41 days ago and with the form of that race boosted by both the runner-up and third since, odds of 20/1 seem totally crazy when you also consider she’s already accounted for the likes of State Occasion and Achelois in the past and they are much shorter in the betting.

GUILD (best price 7/1) couldn’t quite match the staying power of the rapidly-improving Draco Pulchrac over tonight’s C&D last time out, but it was still a performance to suggest he’s likely to go close again on his return to the Co Lough venue if repeating the same level of form. 

A decent third on his previous start on the turf at Navan, Luke Comer’s entire returned to a surface where he’d shown some useful form in the past and even though he didn’t manage to add to his winning tally, the speed figure he posted in defeat went down as a career high.

Running similar splits to the easy winner on the final circuit, it’s also worth pointing out his numbers compared favourably to the ones clocked by Bear Story in the 1m2f listed race on the same card, so based on those findings, it would be a bit of a head-scratcher if the son of Frankel wasn’t a massive player at the business end.