Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BOARDMAN (best price 11/4) is a bit of s standing dish around the unique track and following a much more encouraging display at Haydock last time out, Tim Easterby’s gelding can add to his fine track stats – which include two wins.

Never a factor in the Lincoln over a trip which probably stretches him to the limit, the son of Kingman was dropped back a furlong at the Merseyside venue three weeks later and he could never land a meaningful blow at the main players, there was still a lot to like about the way he performed.

Still towards the rear with three furlongs to run, the seven-year-old finished his race off with plenty of purpose in the closing stages and with the numbers from that competitive handicap speaking favourably of those involved, it is the first real sign he is returning to something close to his best.

Fifth in this race from stall 8 last year when a brutal trip around the outside also contributed to his demise, being four places better off in the ballot should allow him to atone for that slightly unlucky effort.

As witnessed with Hamish at Chester yesterday, William Haggas is more than capable of readying his older, middle-distance horses off a long break and in the shape of MUJTABA (best price 4/1), confidence is high the Newmarket handler can come up with the goods again.

A lightly raced five-year-old, the son of Dubawi only stretched his legs three times last season and it was on his final start at Newbury where we saw potential of what be in store for the future. Upped in trip and racing on testing ground at the Berkshire venue, there was a degree of uncertainty whether the combination of those two factors would prove fruitful, but as it transpired, it could not have worked out any better.

Held up towards the rear early, he arrived on the scene travelling strongly at the two-furlong pole and without Dane O’Neill having to flex his muscles too much, he went readily clear to score by seven lengths.

Despite being eased close home, he still managed to record a very fast speed figure and with conditions ideal for his first outing of the season, a chance is taken on him making that all-important breakthrough into pattern company.

Probably not the classiest renewal of the Chester Cup ever run, so it might well be that a couple of the relatively exposed runners in the shape of CALLING THE WIND (best price 7/1) and CALL MY BLUFF (best price 11/2) can buck the trend of recent winners of this famous prize.

The former has been plying his trade in some tasty staying contests in recent times, highlighted by his excellent effort behind the potentially top-class Coltrane at Sandown last season, and his form in handicaps either side of that run also bears up to the closest inspection. 

A creditable third in the 2021 Cesarewitch behind Buzz (fast speed figure) was followed up with an equally meritorious effort in the November Handicap on his final outing of that campaign and he also did not fare too badly in last season’s Irish Cesarewitch when only beaten seven lengths behind Waterville.

Back in handicap company after shaping well in a conditions race on his first spin for 167 days at Wolverhampton several weeks ago, no one would begrudge the seven-year-old winning a race of this nature after some near misses in similar events in the past (traded at odds-on in two consecutive Queen Alexander’s at Royal Ascot).

The latter has a little less mileage on the clock and, unlike Calling The Wind, he does have valuable experience of today’s track. A game winner on his first outing on the Roodeye, the six-year-old has been placed on his two other tries and with the latter of those efforts coming over the same C&D he faces here this afternoon, he has plenty of attributes you would normally associate with previous winners of this race.

Unable to cope with the hugely progressive Novel Legend at Newbury last time out, time may tell there was no shame in that valiant attempt (pair well clear of the rest) and with conditions coming right just in the nick of time for Dominic Ffrench-Davis’ gelding, he is fancied go close in his bid to provide his in-form handler with another notable success.

HASHTAG BOUM (best price 6/1) score with a good deal of authority at Kelso last time out and with the data from that well-run affair 25 days ago suggesting it was a decent race of its kind, Ruth Jefferson’s mare can continue her fine run of recent results.

Seemingly appreciating the step up in trip at the Borders venue, the daughter of Kayf Tara proved strong in the latter stages of what turned out to be a well-run affair and with a pedigree and background (former point winner on soft ground) to suggest there could be more to come over three miles, she is fancied to continue her progression.

PERCY WARNER (best price 7/2) has not quite scaled the heights over fences connections were probably hoping he might, but with tonight’s contest looking a few notches down on what he has been tackling so far to date, Henry De Bromhead’s gelding should be able to show himself in a much better light.

A winner of his firs two races over hurdle when trained by Gordon Elliott, big things were expected of the son of Ocovango, but after suffering setback which kept him off the track for two years, it has clearly taken him a while to readjust to life back on the racetrack.

That said, there has been plenty of promise in his four starts over fences from his new base and his latest effort in the viciously competitive EBF Novices’ Chase Final at Navan backs up that view. Held up towards the rear early, he still had plenty left on his plate as the field turned out of the back straight, but he did manage to work himself into a position he looked dangerous approaching two out until that big effort eventually took its toll.

On the evidence of that improved effort, the seven-year-old still has plenty to offer and providing he gets a ride whereby he is a little bit more competitive early, his natural ability should allow him to have every chance in a race of this nature.