Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

STEEL ALLY (best price 8-1) roared back to form with a vengeance at Wincanton last time out and with the better ground that day seemingly responsible for his turnaround in fortunes, Sam Thomas’ gelding can keep the wheels turning in the right direction on today’s similar surface. 

Hugely unlucky not to score at the first time of asking at Ffos Las back in November due to a bad mistake at the last, the six-year-old was understandably a warm order to make amends on his return visit a month later but unfortunately his legion of supporters, he never looked like justify 5-4 favouritism, with the very heavy ground that day to blame for his demise. 

Skipping a large chunk of the season, connections went looking for some better ground in the hope to get him back on track and their patience was handsomely rewarded at the west country venue a month ago.

Setting out to make it a proper test at the trip, the son of Doctor Dino soon had his two main rivals at full stretch and maintaining the gallop all the way to the line, he ended up posting a smart speed figure in accounting for the useful and previous scorer, Dartmoor Pirate (fourth in the EBF Final next time). 

Handed a mark of 124 for his handicap debut, that opening rating appears more than workable based on his form and the esteem he is held in at home and with today’s conditions not due to get any worse than the advertise predictions of good-to-soft, everything looks set fair for him to make an impact on his first attempt in this new discipline. 

EXQUISITE ACCLAIM (NAP) (best price 3-1) is proving a reliable conveyance in races of this nature at this track and following another solid effort over tonight’s course last time out, Ado McGuiness’ inmate can strike again back over his optimum trip. 

Setting out to make all the running 21 days ago, the five-year-old seemed to have matters in hand as he held a healthy advantage just over a furlong out but despite seeing out the trip well, he ultimately succumbed to the late burst from stable mate Hightimeyouwon, who nailed him in the final bound. 

Prior to that agonising defeat, he had taken care of his old rival in decisive fashion over tonight’s C&D and the feature of both performances was the pair came well clear of the rest and both speed figures were extremely good for the grade. 

Best when up with pace or allowed to dictate, if possible, his only poor run this winter came when he missed the break and raced in midfield and with a good break this evening from his favourable draw, the consistent gelding looks sure to play another prominent role with his tenaciousness down the straight his main asset.