Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

HIDDEN HEROICS (best price 9/4) clearly benefitted from the combination of fences and first-time cheekpieces when scoring in tidy fashion at Exeter last time and with today’s test likely to play to his strengths based on the round of jumping he showcased 25 days ago, Dan Skelton’s gelding can announce himself on the big stage.

Disappointing when pulled up over hurdles on his seasonal bow at Aintree, drastic measures were introduced in order to get him back on track, but even allowing for the potential of improvement to come for a change of discipline, his performance at the West Country was still way beyond expectations. Up against the likes of Mr Glass and Masters Legacy, the son of Coastal Path ran and jumped his better-fancied rivals into submission and, in doing so, he posted a seriously impressive time figure.

Clearly well suited by aggressive tactics, a similar ride on ground he likes should see him difficult to beat from the front.

MARTA DES MOTTES (best price 4/1) is the first horses to represent the useful novices’ handicap chase won by Saint Segal at Chepstow three weeks ago and a repeat of a similar level of form should see Tom Symonds’ mare a big player back against her own sex.

Impressive in the first-time cheekpieces previously, the daughter of Montmatre was a strong fancy to back up that display at the Welsh venue and although she did very little wrong in her bid to go back-to-back, she ultimately came up just a little short. That said, the numbers from that strongly-run affair 21 days ago suggested she’d run to a career high and with today’s extra half a mile threatening to suit, the five-year-old makes plenty of appeal off her current mark.

AMAYSMONT (best price 4/1) fared pretty well against a couple of progressive three-year-olds over tonight’s C&D last time out and a repeat of a similar level of form should see Richard Fahey’s gelding uphold his terrific track record.

Settling nicely in behind the decent pace set by Alexander James, the son of Mayson was noted still going as well as anything turning for home, but unlike the front two, he could only find the one pace inside the final furlong.

Looking at the data from that quality handicap 10 days ago, it reveals the race was extremely good for the grade on the numbers and with today’s contest a weaker one on the whole in comparison, the five-year-old rates a confident choice to play a big part in the finish providing he gets a decent early position from his wide draw.

ANIF (best price 4/1) came from an unlikely position at halfway to land the spoils with a bit to spare over tonight’s course last time out and with the extra yardage he faces on his return visit seen as a positive, there seems no obvious reason why Michael Herrington’s veteran shouldn’t play a role in the finish. 

As usual, the son of Cape Cross was towards the rear after a slow start but despite having to overtake virtually the entire 14-strong field in the home straight, he managed to pull off the task with a relentless run from the two-furlong pole. Hitting the line hard, the eight-year-old recorded a speed figure which surpassed anything he’d previously achieved and with the race in question already beginning to take shape with good subsequent runs from the third and seventh, the form looks reliable. 

Not blessed with tonight draw in stall 11, he will obviously have to be dropped out the back again and hope they go a decent gallop, but providing that turns out to be the case, nothing will be coming home stronger at the death.

Rough Diamond sets a really good standard both on current form and time figures based on his convincing victory here last time, but despite his obvious claims, BENAVENTE (best price 7/1) appeals a viable each-way alternative on the theory he might improve for tonight’s drop in trip.

Sent off one of the outsiders in a rated race here 21 days ago, the task for Richard O’Brien’s gelding was made even tougher being handed stall 14 of 14, but despite that impost, he managed to raise him game sufficiently to earn a slice of the pie. Last turning for home, he finished off his race to such effect he clocked the fastest backend sectionals of the entire and considering he achieved this feat despite being keen and posted out wide in the early stages is testimony to his ability.

Shaping as though he might be better suited by a strongly run six furlongs rather than held on to over further, the son of Twilight Son has the ideal stall on his return to the Co Lough venue to test that theory to the full.