Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ZOUS BABY (best price 15/2) has pretty uninspiring form figures but there’s a chance he could leave four unplaced efforts behind in his new yard can unlock his potential.

Too keen for his own good on two of his first three starts, the three-year-old was surprisingly well backed when dropped significantly in trip on his handicap debut at Chelmsford towards the dying embers of last season and although he failed to justify his position in the market, there was evidence those who punted him weren’t a million miles away.

Settling better towards the rear, the Zoustar gelding was noted going well turning for home, but unfortunately he went down one blind alley after another and he ended up finishing hard on the bridle without obtaining anything like a clear run.

Clearly much better than the bare form suggests at the Essex venue, he now has his first run for Clive Cox in what looks a pretty modest contest and if he can break well from his inside draw, a more outcome can be forthcoming.

The combination of two miles and the refitting of cheekpieces seem to have transformed BERKSHIRE ROCCO (NAP) (best price 7/4) on his last two all-weather appearances and even though he’s unproven over today’s course, Andrew Balding’s inmate has the class to overcome that slight negative.

Trying the trip for the first time on an all-weather surface at Southwell two starts ago, the son of Sir Percy showed a sparkling turn of foot to readily account for the likes of Rainbow Dreamer and Earlofthecotswolds and with the time figure speaking favourably in his direction, we know he can cope well with a strongly run race that tests his stamina.

Not best placed given how the race developed at Kempton last time out, it was still encouraging to see the six-year-old stay on in the manner he did inside the final two furlongs and with today’s opposition classed as nothing he hasn’t seen before, he rates a strong choice to land this valuable prize.

CHICHESTER (best price 8/1) has a bit to find strictly based on ratings, but he does have tons of proven track form which might allow him to bridge the gap against the likes of Berkshire Shadow and Positive and because of that valuable knowledge, he’s well worth an interest at the morning prices.

Campaigned mainly over 1m2f in recent times, it’s worth noting, however, one of his better performances of late – certainly based on the clock – came over today’s C&D two starts ago and a repeat of something close to that level of form will hopefully lead to him outrunning his odds.

Drawn inside today’s likely front runner. Lord Of The Lodge, his high cruising speed should allow him to track the pace down to the business end from which point his ability to stay further should atnd him in good stead.

A complicated handicap, in-keeping with the rest of the card, but OBSIDIAN KNIGHT (best price 8/1) has the sort of profile over today’s C&D to suggest he’s more likely than not to run his race and for that reason, he receives the percentage call at the morning prices.

A convincing winner at the Surrey track three starts ago, Terry Kent’s gelding then had the misfortune to bump into the Zealot bandwagon at Newcastle next time but when all said and done, it was still a fair effort in the context of where he was turning for home.

Unable to quite see out the trip over 1m4f against a strong stayer at Wolverhampton last time, he now heads back to a track where he’s 2-2 over 1m2f and having been handed a favourable draw, a decent break and handy early track position should see him play a big part at the business end.