Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Competitive stuff, but there’s every chance of bolds displays from ANIF (best price 11/2) and ELIGIBLE (best price 8/1) – two of only three C&D winners in today’s line-up. 

The former posted big number for the grade when coming from well off the speed to win here two starts ago and he followed that up with a perfectly respectable effort over a mile last time. Often slowly away, he will always need a certain amount of luck in running to oblige, but as today’s big field is likely to go pretty hard, there’s a decent chance everything will pan out for him in the latter stages. 

The former was always likely to struggle over a trip he’d never tried in the past at Newcastle last time, but now back at the scene of his most notable speed figure two starts ago, the son of Dark Angel is highly likely to outrun his morning odds. 

Towards the rear as the field turned for home here in October, the four-year-old cruised up to the leaders at the furlong pole and from that point he only had to be nudged out for a cosy success. Unsurprisingly given the figures involved that day, the race has worked out well since and with another strong run seven furlongs likely to be the case, he too can make his presence felt. 

ENGAGEMENT RING (best price 11/2) has run pretty well considering she’s been asked to go a suicidal gallop in two hot maidens over today’s course, but in the hope that connections see sense in giving the daughter of Galileo a much more conservative ride, she has every chance of finally getting off the mark. 

Placed in two similar races on turf prior to testing the water on the all-weather, Aidan O’Brien’s filly was asked to do the donkey work over 1m4f here last month and although she put up a brave fight for majority of the journey, her legs finally buckled when joined inside the final furlong. Asked to occupy a similar role over the same C&D nine days ago, the three-year-old grey got hooked up an unnecessary pace dual up front with a 100-1 poke who had no right being anywhere near the lead and, as a result, she got softened up sufficiently enough to suffer the same fate in the latter stages.

Looking at both speed figure of those respective contests, it’s pretty clear she set fractions almost unsustainable for a horse of her rating, so it’s probably fair not to judge her too harshly given the circumstances. 

Being a half-sister to the likes of Capri and Cyprus Creek, who were both stout stayers, tonight’s two-mile journey should play into her strengths, she just needs to be ridden in a way so she can be seen to operate at maximum capacity. 

LINUS LARRABEE (best price 4/1) seems to have struck up a decent partnership with apprentice Sorcha Woods and the combination are fancied to be seen to good effect for the fourth time in succession. 

Successful in the hands of the Naas-based pilot at the first time of asking over today’s C&D in early November, the son of Slade Power repeated the dose under a similar cool ride on his next start later in the month. Bidding for the hat trick a week later, the coffin box draw of stall 16 was always likely to prove a stumbling block for Edward Lynam’s gelding, but to the horse’s great credit, he was only narrowly foiled by the more prominently ridden Selective Power close home. 

Talented and quirky in equal measures, his trademark slow starts often give him plenty to do in the latter stages, but hopefully he will be sufficiently in touch turning for home to make up the lost deficit at the business end.

RIVER REIN (NAP) (best price 3/1) ran out a ready winner over tonight’s course last time out and off what appears a very favourable handicap mark, Joseph O’Brien’s filly rates a strong choice to make an immediate impact in this sphere. 

Having her first outing at the Co Lough venue after a series of frustrating placed efforts, the daughter of Fastnet Rock was well backed to make it ninth time lucky and, in what turned out to be a well-run affair, she duly made no mistake. Noted going well turning for home, the three-year-old filly stayed on extremely strongly in the latter stages to pull well clear and with the speed figure revealing it was a decent race of its kind, she’s probably done well come out of the contest only slightly worse off in the ratings. 

Aiding by the presence of useful apprentice Wayne Hassett, she now runs off a mark of just 71, so even though she’s dropping back in trip, it would come as something of a surprise if she didn’t have a huge say in the final outcome. 

A top quality handicap for the grade and its one well within the capabilities COURT OF SESSION (best price 7/2) based on his most recent display at Wolverhampton.

A convincing winner at Chelmsford previously, Simon & Ed Crisford’s inmate was well-fancied to follow up at the Midland venue three weeks later and although he found one too good on the night, the numbers suggested he’d surpassed anything he’d achieved in the past. Sweeping to the front just over a furlong out, he ended up getting collared late on by the strong-finishing King Of Conquest, but given that horse managed to run the fastest closing sectional of everything on show that evening, suggested the son of Iffraaj was more than a tad unlucky. 

Although yet to race at tonight’s track, the fact he’s won on the deeper surface often associated with the Essex venue should stand him in good stead and providing he receives a decent run through in the early stages from his favourable draw, the improving three-year-old is expected to be there at the death.