Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

DANCING GEMINI (best price 6-1) turned a few heads when landing an above-average novice contest at Newbury last time out and with the sped figure pointing favourably in the direction of Roger Teal’s colt, he could turn out to be the one most likely to give War Rooms most to think about.

Unable to cope with the potentially top class Rosallion at Ascot on his second start, the son of Camelot had his sights lowered when back among novice company at the Berkshire venue on his most recent outing and, having been noted going well throughout, he came readily clear from his field with a smart turn of foot inside the final furlong.

Seemingly appreciating the ease underfoot that day, the time figure and subsequent from of those in behind suggested he had run to a standard verging on pattern class and with connections having no hesitation but to pitch him into this warm heat, hopefully he will make a better fist of things than he did back in July.

FLORA OF BERMUDA (best price 13-2) ultimately came up a little short when pitched in against the best 6f fillies around in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last time out, but she did go well until stamina became an issue and back over the minimum trip and down in grade, Andrew Balding’s can make a similar sort of impact to the one she made at Goodwood the time before.

A smooth winner of a valuable prize at Goodwood a month ago, she marked herself down as a potential pattern-race filly by defying an unfavourable draw, and so it was on to the Knavesmire to see whether she could live up to those expectations.

Going as well as anything at the two-furlong pole 22 days ago, she couldn’t quite live with the main players in the latter stages, but she did only get beaten six lengths and in the context of today’s race, it still comes out a commendable effort against horses who have already gone on to boost the form.

Now back over five furlongs and on a more favourable surface, the daughter of Dark Angel should hopefully be in her element and being drawn handily next to the pace right down the middle will give Oisin Murphy ample opportunity to set up a rousing finish.

THE GOAT (best price 9-4) found the quicker conditions at York counting against him last time out, but now returning to a surface that allowed him to run out a wide-margin winner at Goodwood previously, Andrew Balding’s inmate is fancied to represent his age group with distinction. 

Sent off one of the outsiders in competitive three-year-old handicap at the Sussex venue, the son of Cracksman faced soft ground for the first time but as it turned out, he made a mockery of his starting price by handling the conditions way better than most to score by 12 lengths. 

Although he ended up being like a cat on a hot tin roof on the Knavesmire, he wasn’t totally disgraced and with conditions almost certain to suit him better than most, anything other than a bold display must go down as a huge disappointment from one of the most unexposed members of the party. 

CHERRY (NAP) (best price 2-1) clocked an impressive speed figure when finally getting off the mark at Goodwood last time out and with her handicap mark seemingly still on the lenient side considering her overall profile, Ralph Beckett’s filly looks the one to beat with seemingly plenty in her favour.

Placed for the fourth time on the spin when having the misfortune to bump into subsequent Galtres Stakes winner Sea Theme (now rated 98) over today’s C&D, she was found what appeared on paper a clearer pathway to success at the Sussex venue last time out and, having oozed quality throughout, she readily took the opportunity with both hands.

Although it looked a mandatory victory at first glance, a closer inspection revealed a set of numbers to suggest she had taken a huge step forward from her previous defeat and carrying that sort of form into today’s contest off just a 5lb higher mark looks there to be exploited by this potentially smart filly in the making.