Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

FATHOM TWO (best price 9/4) has posted a couple of smart speed figures over today’s course and with no obvious reason why he won’t shine again around a track that clearly suits his eye, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding can repeat his victory here 21 days ago.

Placed in two bumpers at the Co Down venue, the son of Court Cave began in hurdling campaign with another solid effort in defeat on his return visit two months ago and he didn’t have to wait too long before finally gaining due reward for his consistency.

Fitted with the first-time tongue-tie, the six-year-old travelled into the business end of the contest going best of all and once given the office after the last, he stayed on strongly up the hill to score with more in hand than the official margin suggested.

Handling the yielding-to-soft ground well, he returns to the scene of that emphatic success under similar conditions and hailing from a yard going great guns under both codes at present, he looks set to keep the ball rolling for his Co Meath handler.

UNANSWERED PRAYERS (NAP) (best price 3/1) is just plain and simply different class to today’s opponents and hailing from a stable that usually leave no stone unturned when bringing one back after layoff, Chris Gordon’s inmate can start this season on a bright note.

A close-up fourth in what turned out to be a very good renewal of the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his seasonal bow, the son of Ocovango embarked on a chasing campaign that saw him successful at the first time of asking at Cheltenham’s November meeting. None of today’s rival could match those sorts of achievements.

Unable to build on that promising start as expected, he still, however, returns to the fray off what appears a workable mark based on the pick of his form and having gone well fresh after a break of 100 days or more in the past, first time out could well be the right time to strike with this useful seven-year-old.

A keenly contested middle-distance listed event for punters to fathom but there’s a decent chance LMAY (best price 11/2) could well be the answer providing she repeats the level of performance she achieved at Doncaster last time out.

Held up at the back of the field on Town Moor as Sumo Sam played the pied piper role at the head of affairs, John & Thady Gosden’s filly was produced with what appeared a well timed challenge at the two furlong pole, but just as she looked she might go and claim the prize, the effort to make up the thick end of ten lengths on a willing rival that just kept pounding out the fractions took eventually took its toll late on.

The good thing about her effort 22 days ago was the fact she settled much better than she had done on several occasions this season and returning to a course that saw her run with credit in the Ribblesdale Stakes back in June, a similar patient ride on more favourable ground can see her round the campaign in fine style.

BUYIN BUYIN (best price 18/1) may not have the sexy profile of some of his counterparts in this two-year-old listed contest, but he does have the advantage of being the only course winner in the line-up and that valuable knowledge should allow him to outrun his morning odds.

A surprise winner on his debut here back in March, the time figure he posted that day suggested there was no fluke about the performance, and he went on to justify that belief when scoring against better opposition on the turf at Naas four months later.

Although soundly beaten on his last two starts at The Curragh at Group 3 level, the son of Bungle Inthejungle had the ground as an excuse on his first visit to the Co Kildare venue and he ran better than the bare result suggests back their last time out.

Held up towards the rear after a tardy start 41 days ago, the flashy chestnut moved into the contest to hold every chance at the two-furlong pole but as he ended up making his challenge away from where the main action developed on the slowest part of the track, his ran rather petered out and he eventually had to settle for a minor role.

On the evidence of that effort, he shouldn’t face too many problems with tonight’s extra furlong and now returning to a surface that compliments his long stride, a prominent display should be forthcoming.