Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

NATIVE AMERICAN (best price 5-1) failed in his bid to stay beyond a mile at Newmarket last time out but considering some of his form around today’s trip as a juvenile, he most certainly comes into the equation in this wide open-looking listed affair. 

Winner of his first two starts last season, Richard Fahey’s colt fell just short of the requirements needed for Group 1 level on his final outing but at the same time, he did more than enough behind subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas hero, Rosallion to suggest brighter days were still ahead. 

Stepped up to 1m1f to contest the Fielden Stakes at HQ following a 199-day break, the son of Sioux Nation raced exuberantly without much cover for the first part of the race and when asked to join the main players at the two-furlong pole, his effort rather petered out and he could only plug to finish a well beaten eighth of the ten runners. 

That said, the time figure and subsequent victories of Ambient Friendly and Caviar Heights suggest he didn’t run as badly as first feared and with today’s test putting more emphasis on speed than stamina, his qualities can come to the fore. 

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DARK THIRTY (best price 11-2) has an overall profile to suggest he is more likely to run his race than most and with the form of his first two races this season having a solid feel to them, Richard Hannon’s gelding looks booked for another positive outcome. 

Disappointing only once as a three-year-old when he failed to stay a mile in the Britannia At Royal Ascot, he immediately got off the mark in a hot contest at Newmarket over six furlongs and although he failed in his bid to repeat the dose over an extra furlong on his return to the same track and month later, he came out of the contest when just as much credit.

Slowly away having reared coming out of the stalls at HQ, the son of Starspangledbanner was soon on the back foot, but his great credit, he recovered sufficiently well enough to pick up the pieces and finish third, a result that seemed highly unlikely after a furlong.

To put extra context on his performance 28 days ago, he only just finished on the heels of subsequent easy winner English Oak and with the well beaten eighth, Lethal Levi also going on to score since, he arguably brings the best recent form to the party. 

Having handled the undulations of the Rowley Mile well, you’d like to think he’d be able to adapt his game to today’s unique course and nicely drawn in stall 3, only desperate trouble in running can prevent him from being a player at the business end. 

There’s more than a fair chance Mickley proves ahead of his mark either here or at some stage this season but at the same time, the market hasn’t missed him whereas MONO RIVER (best price 13-2) seems to have been slightly overlooked based on his last two performances. 

Runner-up to the potentially very smart Dorney Lake at Yarmouth two starts ago, the time figure and subsequent exploits of the winner suggested he faced an impossible task and although he came up a little short in going one place better at Windsor nine days later, he could hardly be accused of taking a backward step. 

Handed a workable mark of 75 and up to a trip that should suit, William Haggas’ inmate has healthy prospects of making an impact on handicap debut. 

ZARIYGANN (best price 9-2) shaped with plenty of encouragement on his seasonal bow at Sligo and in a race that won’t take too much winning, Michael Halford & Tracey Collins’ gelding has all the right credentials in his bid to shed his maiden tag. 

Promising on his first two starts last season, the son of Sea The Moon stayed on strongly in the closing stages after being in an uncompromising position coming out of the back straight and considering it was his first effort for 216 days, his performance deserves plenty of praise. 

Seemingly a better horse than Wisdomofhindsight based on the evidence available from the Cleveragh Road venue, it’s hard to believe he has been chalked up a bigger price than his old rival and with the front two in the market better known for their exploits over hurdles, he should have the necessary gears over this trip to outpace that pair as well.