Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MOTHER MARY (best price10/3) created a favourable impression when scoring with a bit of panache at Salisbury last time out and even though she looks the type who still has a fair bit to learn, chances are her ability will still stand her in good stead up against a strong opponent in the shape of Nibras Angel.

Looking in need of the experience at Nottingham on her debut, she arrived at the Wiltshire venue with a reasonable amount of confident behind her and, having travelled sweetly through the early part of the contest (raced wide with no cover), she found a smart turn of foot to scamper away from her rivals in double-quick time.

Keeping on well once in the clear, she readily repelled the late work of strongly fancied favourite Alexandretta and when you add into the mix, she also posted a decent speed figure into the bargain, her performance takes on a new dimension.

Obviously, she faces an above-average previous winner who impressed visually on her debut at Lingfield (quickened well off a slow gallop) but other than that, she hasn’t got too much else to fear in her bid to keep her progression heading in the right direction and at the morning prices, she rates the value call. 

MOULIN BOOJ (NAP) (best price 7/2) didn’t have the rub of the green in a tactical race on heavy ground at Ffos Las on Monday but with connections seemingly more than happy to roll the dice again back on a more favourable surface, George Scott’s inmate can keep up the fine recent run of results for his handler.

Since fitted with a hood, the son of Sioux Nation has really begun to flourish and after first hinting of a fair amount of ability at Yarmouth, he duly delivered the goods on his third attempt on handicap company at Wolverhampton. Winning in silky-smooth fashion that day, it was easy to see why he was odds-on to follow up soon after at the Welsh venue three days ago but as it turned out, he couldn’t quicken as well as the winner in the final furlong and he ended up having to settle for an honourable second.

By no means a disaster to his long-term prospects, he remains one to keep on side and with today’s race looking no stronger than the one he faced when winning easily two starts ago, it wouldn’t come as the biggest surprise in the world if he were to bounce back immediately.

FIRST OF MAY (best price 6/1) could never really land a meaningful blow due to a poor trip around the outside at Chester last time out but with the data from that above-average contest for the grade suggesting she had still run well despite adversity, James Fanshawe’s filly could well turn out to be the sneaky one back among her own sex.

A dual winner on the all-weather previously, she was prominent in the market on her first run back since a 73-day break but having been forced wide throughout what turned out to be a strongly run affair, she could only keep on at the one pace inside the final furlong.

Sure to be all the better for that outing and back running in a straight line, some early cover from her middle draw should hopefully see her be a threat of sorts at the business end.