Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

THE BUSY FOOL (best price 4/1) created a favourable impression when causing a shock first time out at Thurles a month ago and providing he can translate his ability on the level to eight flight of hurdles, Philip Rothwell’s gelding has a reasonable chance of being the giant killer for the second time in succession.

Sent off 28-1 at the Co Tipperary venue, the son of Doyen put himself in a position whereby he held every chance of defying his odds on the home turn and it was an opportunity he didn’t squander as he stayed on best of all to get the better of several well-regarded types late on.

Bred to get further, today’s trip should suit and with the numbers from his initial success suggested he is no slouch, the combination of his natural pace and stamina should see him a big player on his hurdling debut.

DANGAN CLOUD (best price 10/3) can herself a shade unfortunate to bump into a horse of Minella Double’s calibre over today’s course last time and with the drop back to the minimum trip seen as a wise move given how well she travelled for a long way; Lucinda Russell’s inmate rates a strong choice back among her own sex.

Having her first outing under rules for new connections, the former Irish pointer was given a positive ride at the Borders venue and for nine tenths of the 2m4f journey, those tactics looked like coming up trumps. However, she finally succumbed to Olly Murphy’s gelding in the closing stages, but she did keep on well enough to suggest she has a bright future and her time figure in defeat also backed up that view.

As is often the case with these Irish pointers, they sometimes prove best over the minimum trip – especially on a stiff track – and hailing from a yard who always must be feared at today’s venue, a return to the same track can reap maximum rewards.

YOKKELL (best price 10/1) has had very limited experience of racing on the all-weather but on the evidence of her latest effort here last month, she looks to be finding her feet enough to worth chancing at her morning odds.

Pitched out in the widest stall at the Co Lough venue 21 days ago, the four-year-old was quite rightly dropped towards the rear to give her a decent chance of obtaining the best possible finishing position and as it turned out, third was probably about as good as she could have hoped for. Looking dangerous momentarily as the field headed for home, she couldn’t quite live with the pace injected by Jaafel, but as the eventual winner was knocking out the sort of fractions normally associated with a better class of horse, the daughter of Fast Company could be cut some slack.

Since that strong performance (on the figures), she now finds herself in the care of John McConnell and having been handed a much more favourable draw on her first outing for new connections, she would only have to run somewhere near the same level as last time to feature in this similar heat.

VADIANA (best price 6/1) may have only won a fillies’ handicap here last time out, but such was her time figure, she looks well worth her place in tonight’s line-up and with bookmakers seemingly going all out to totally ignore her claims, their underestimation of her ability must be seized upon.

A shade disappointing several times on the turf this season, mainly due to unsuitable underfoot conditions, connections decided to seek a better surface in a bid to get her back on track and sure enough, her venture back into the all-weather scene proved to be an instant success.

A little slowly into stride 21 days ago, she found herself in last place as the field turned for home but with a powerful late surge, she passed all her ten rivals in a short space of time to end up scoring with a bit up her sleeve. Hitting the line hard, she left the impression seven furlongs was a minimum requirement and now racing over a furlong further, she should end up being in her element.

Admittedly, she could have done with a better draw (stall 10), but other than that slight negative, Michael Halford & Tracey Collins’ improving filly has sound claims of keeping her unbeaten course record intact.