Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SEA OF ROSES (best price 10/1) was unlucky to bump into a very classy colt at Ffos Las on debut (runs in a Group 1 at Saint Cloud over the weekend) but she did more than enough in defeat to suggest she should easily be capable of winning a maiden further down the line and, under conditions that will suit, she may not have to wait too long to exercise that theory.

Up against a 1-6 poke that had already taken care of a horse who went on to land the Convivial maiden at York next time, it would have clearly been a shock to many if she’d managed to be good enough at the first time of asking and although she never looked like providing a surprise, she pleased with the way she kept on strongly to finish a creditable second. What she is up against here today is anyone’s guess, but with her experience of running in a well-run mile race on soft ground safely tucked away in her memory bank, it would be a surprise if she weren’t capable of building on that initial effort and be a big factor her this afternoon.

MOFASA (best price 4/1) impressed in pretty much every department when making a winning start to life over hurdles at Uttoxeter 19 days ago and with the strong possibility of even more to come, Michael Scudamore’s gelding is taken to continue his progression.

Having his first outing for 339 days after making a promising start in a bumper at Ffos Las, the son of Ocovango looked to be facing a stiff task up against the well-fancied Colonial Harry at the Midland venue, but having travelled and jumped well in behind the market leader for the thick end two miles, he readily brushed him aside to go on and record a comfortable success. Although not off the charts by any means time figure-wise, he still reproduced a healthy set of numbers, particularly on the final circuit, and with the only issue deriving from the fact he might need some give underfoot to be at his best, hopefully the rain they’ve had in the last 24 hours will be sufficient enough to enable him to run to maximum capacity.

FINAL WATCH (best price 5/1) hit the line really hard when landing a competitive amateur rider’s contest at Ascot last time out and with that victory taking his record in seven-furlong handicaps to 11221, William Stone’s gelding has strong chance of going one place better than he did in this race last year.

Similar to last year, the son of Mukhadram avoided the Spring and most of the Summer due to fast ground and instead used a couple of all-weather races to chip off the rustiness. Encouraging in two competitive affairs at Chelmsford, the four-year-old was brought to the boil for his latest encounter at the Berkshire venue three weeks ago and with conditions very much in his favour, he duly rewarded the patient afforded to him by connections with a thoroughly convincing win. In doing so, he posted a very fast time for the grade and on that evidence, he arguably appears a better horse than he did with another year under his belt.

Unlucky to bump into mud lark Molls Memory here twelve months ago, conditions are also not quite so bad this time around, and with a favourable middle draw likely to provide Hollie Doyle with plenty of options to get some much-needed cover in the early stages, hopefully he will come through strongly at the death and deliver a knockout blow.

GISBURN (best price 10/3) caught the eye in a major way in a hot contest at York last time out and now heading back to the scene of when he was last victorious at this very meeting last season, Richard Hannon’s gelding is strongly fancied to repeat the dose.

A little slow to gather stride on the Knavesmire, the son of Ribchester was still in last place at the field hurtled past the halfway stage in what was an extremely well run contest and although he made noticeable in roads towards the main players in the latter stages, he was ultimately just too far back in the first place to land a blow. That said, had he enjoyed a smoother passage during that timeframe he would have surely gone close to landing the prize and safe in the knowledge that today’s track provides more of a leg-up to the deep-closers than it does a more speed-based course, the flashy chestnut has a golden opportunity to take advantage of his current mark.

FIRST OFFICER (NAP) (best price 5/2) proved way too good for his rivals at Nottingham last time out and even though the son of Galileo has to face a slight step up in grade, today’s similar track and conditions make him too tempting a proposition to ignore.

Having his first outing for 54 days and for his new stable, Jane Chapple Hyam’s gelding faced the onslaught of public money in the direction of the seemingly well-treated Ascending out of a good race at Newbury previously, but in kicking Clive Cox’s charge into touch, along with nine other rivals, he posted a tremendous set to figures. Not only was his overall time figure the best on the card by some way, which is unusual for being the last race of the day, his backend splits were also extremely favourable considering the gallop he set.

Clearly a horse with a big engine, the drop back to 1m2f allowed him to distribute his energy levels better, so it’s good to see connections thinking along the same lines by keeping him at that trip here today. Although he made the running to devastating effect 16 days ago, he has such a good turn of foot in the conditions he doesn’t necessarily have to lead, so with plenty of other front runners in the field, hopefully William Buick will use his noggin accordingly (today’s round track has a habit of eating front runners alive).