Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MONTE LINAS (best price 5/2) lost his position at a vital stage in proceedings at Chelmsford last time out, but it was still an encouraging enough effort to suggest Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding deserves another chance to duplicate the favourable impression he created on his debut.

Doing well to recover from a slow start at the Essex venue on his opening bow back in April, the son of Territories seemed to be a better position after a furlong or so on his return visit a month later, but after inexplicably losing valuable ground to his main market rival American Belle rounding the home turn, he could never get back into a place whereby he could land a significant blow.

He did, however, come home with a degree of purpose to suggest it may have been a different story on another day and with today’s surface offering a challenge he can hopefully overcome at the first time of asking, the lightly raced three-year-old is fancied to prove equal to the task.

DIAMONDONTHEHILL (best price 13/2) ran a good deal better than the bare result suggested in a hot handicap at Thirsk last time out and now dropping back to the sort of level that saw him last successful at Redcar last season, Michael Dods’ inmate rates a strong choice at the morning prices.

Poorly positioned in what turned out to be a strongly run affair at the Yorkshire venue, the five-year-old still had more in front of him than behind as the field turned for home but it was noticeable that he did finish off his race well inside the final two furlongs to be a never nearer sixth and it was performance that indicated he is not too far off his best.

Successful in two straight mile races last term, a return to a similar set of circumstances should see e him fully effective and he deserves to be played accordingly.

DOYENNA (best price 11/2) was probably feeling the effects of being off the track for 167 days when fading in the closing stages of a competitive handicap at Kilbeggan last time out, but with that all-important run under her belt, Lorna Fowler’s mare has a decent chance to re-establish herself back at the scene of her previous C&D win. 

Sent off favourite to continue the good body of work she had accumulated during the autumn period, the daughter of Doyen held every chance turning out of the back straight, but unfortunately for her supporters, she just ran out of steam after being asking to race wide in the hottest part of the contest. 

Good enough to beat the now 138-rated So Scottish in a maiden hurdle on her last visit to tonight’s surroundings, a repeat of something similar on ground she enjoys should see her go close to turning around recent form with Set Point.

BELLA BLISS (best price 8/1), for a large majority of her latest encounter at Wexford travelled like the likeliest winner and a chance is taken she can finish off her race a little better now back at a track that has served her well in the past. 

A convincing winner of a three-mile event at the Co Down venue two starts ago, John McConnell’s mare was well backed to follow up the useful speed figure she posted that day, but for some unknown reason, her engine inexplicably cut out rounding the home turn and over the last two hurdles. Whether it was the tacky ground, unfamiliar track or she was still feeling the effects of her big effort the time before, it is hard to know, but either way, it was a far cry from the horse we witnessed a month earlier.  

Of course, she could blow out again as well rebound back in the right direction, but as her price is too tempting for her to be totally dismissed out of hand, a small each-way interest will suffice.