Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LEADING FORCE (tipped price 3-1) shaped as though two miles around Sedgefield’s tight circuit was an insufficient test last time out but all the same, he still ran well under the circumstances on chase debut and with connections quick to react to the issue regarding the trip, Sandy Thomson’s gelding is fancied to go one place better. 

Held up in the rear in the early stages at the Durham venue, the seven-year-old was badly outpaced al the way down the back straight but to his great credit he stuck to the task in admirable fashion, and he stayed on well in the final half a mile to finish an honourable second to course specialist, Duo D’Enfou. 

Although still yet to register a victory in eight starts, he did have some decent form over hurdles and with most of those notable efforts coming over 2m4f, today’s the day when he will hopefully piece it all together. 

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The race won by Wrecking Ball Paul here three weeks ago was highlighted by a strong time figure for the grade and having stayed on strongly in the latter stages to gain as small slice of the pie, HIGHLAND KING (tipped price 6-1) makes plenty of appeal in this similar heat. 

Settling towards the rear of midfield 21 days ago, he soon found himself in an unpromising position as a breakaway group of four, including the eventual winner, managed to sneak away from the main pack and even though he did his level best to try and erode the deficit down the straight, he was always fighting a losing battle. 

Not only has the winner gone on to win again, one of the horses who was alongside him down the back straight, Dark Street, has also boosted the form/time figure since, and providing he can keep some of tonight’s main players within his sights this time, John McConnell should have a fighting chance of finally breaking his duck. 

WAR CORRESPONDENT (tipped price 5-1) produced a dominant display when scoring in tidy fashion over tonight’s C&D last time out and with the numbers he achieved speaking favourably of his performance, Ross Cody’s inmate looks poised to back up the theory that he deserves to be a good deal shorter in the betting. 

Only once victorious before he arrived her last time out, it was not difficult to pigeonhole him into the category of a frustrating sort, but there was no stage when he didn’t look like winning 35 days ago which makes his poor win-to-run ratio even more baffling. 

Racing on the shoulder of the pace setter at the Co Lough venue, the son of Teofilo moved sweetly through the early part of the well run 1m4f journey, and once sent for home at the three-furlong marker, he opened a lead which proved an unassailable one. 

Slowly away and never involved the time before, he seemed to appreciate the decision to ditch the headgear and even though the assessor has tried to have a proper swipe at him based on his revised mark, he looks in the kind of form to suggest he may prove equal to the task.