Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

JILLY COOPER (best price 3/1) isn’t the biggest of fillies, but her frame is tailor made for the sharp nature of today’s track and surface and she looks booked to run another big race at the Surrey venue.

A comfortable winner of her first start here last year, the daughter of Lope De Vega has been a model of consistency on the all-weather since and with connections recognising that seven-furlongs is her optimum trip, she has seemingly taken her game to a higher level.

Too good for the likes of in-form pair Starshiba and Algheed at Wolverhampton two starts ago, she ran even better in warmer contest back over the same C&D on her most recent outing and considering that effort was achieved from a modest draw, her performances deserves extra praise.

Back in Class 4 company and returning to her favourite venue, the four-year-old filly is fancied to keep her stock high.

Richhill was always likely to attract the attention of bookmakers and punters alike but at the same time, TRAPRAIN LAW (best price 3/1) is certainly no mug and he’s fancied to put his all-important track knowledge to good use.

An all-the-way winner of his first run post wind surgery back in December, Lucinda Russell’s grey just found the progressive Carcaci Castle too good on his return to the Borders venue later in the month, but he soon rebounded back in the right direction back over the same C&D last time.

Once again bouncing out in a bid to make all, the son of Martaline soon at his rivals at full stretch and in keeping up a relentless gallop all the way to the line, he posted a useful set of numbers. Running the final circuit over five seconds quicker than the more established handicaps over the same C&D, those figures highlight the extent of the damage the five-year-old caused and with similar forceful tactics likely to be pursued again today, he can make life uncomfortable viewing for favourite backers.

ELVIS MAIL (best price 9/4) kept on well to finish a respectable third in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster last time out and now heading back in the direction of a track where his stats read 413112224, Nick Alexander’s grey should play an active role in this slightly less competitive environment.

A winner earlier in the campaign on just his second outing following wind surgery, the son of Great Pretender hasn’t troubled the judge in two starts since, but when you consider the strength of opposition has been pretty demanding, it’s little wonder he has just been a bit-part player.

Taking stock of his overall profile, and you can soon spot that most of his best performances in terms of visual impression and speed figures have come in small fields and with the cheekpieces on for the first time just to provide him with that extra motivation he might need nowadays, the nine-year-old can give the favourite, Minella Drama, a tough afternoon at the office.

WRECKING BALL PAUL (NAP) (best price 3/1) has twice shaped with an infinite amount of promise over tonight’s track and with the strong possibility that the extra yardage he faces and overall weaker opposition will aid his cause no end, Paul Mulligan’s inmate can make it third time lucky.

A disappointing type over jumps for Gordon Elliott, the son of Jet Away has looked a totally different proposition since switching his attentions to the all-weather and following an encouraging display in a competitive 1m2f maiden here a month ago, he gave out equally positive vibes on his return visit several weeks later.

Dropped out early from his wide draw (for the second time in a row), the five-year-old was soon towards the rear but, in a swift manoeuvre down the back straight, he pulled himself into a position where he could at least be competitive in the closing stages. The trouble was, he expended so much energy in doing so, it was rather inevitable he was going to be unable to sustain the effort, but to his great credit he never gave up the ghost and he did manage to at least plug on well for third.

While all this was happening, Banned, his main market rival tonight, was enjoying the luxury of being in the perfect position throughout, so the fact he managed to finish as close as he did to Joseph O’Brien’s filly despite a whole world of things going wrong, is testimony to his ability.

On the evidence of that display, it’s therefore safe to come to the conclusion that this unexposed type is at least the equal of the favourite and with the potential of more to come and a better draw, he rates a no-brainer at the morning prices.