Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

TRUE LEGEND (best price 7-2) did extremely well under the circumstances to finish a respectable fifth in The Northumberland Plate at Newcastle last time out and he looks the one likely to provide the three-year-old Tactician with the most to think about. 

There can’t be anything more infuriating for both connections and punters alike to see a blindfold being whipped off too late by a jockey and that’s precisely what happened to Sir Mark Prescott’s inmate in the big two-mile handicap at Gosforth Park. 

Forfeiting a distance of ground he could ill afford to give away due to Cieran Fallon slightly mistiming the stalls exit, he somehow managed to come from a detached last to only get beaten six lengths in the final analysis and it’s not a far-fetched theory to suggest he was pound for pound the best horse in the race based on what he achieved in the final mile of the contest. 

Despite being hampered on several occasions down the home straight, the four-year-old still produced the quickest three-furlong split times in the hottest part of the race from five out to two out and it was only inside the final furlong his huge effort to pass 15 horses in that juncture caught up with him. 

Good enough to chase home the smart Alsakib on his only outing at today’s venue last season, he returns to the Berkshire circuit in peak form and ready to make up for the debacle from last month.

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KITESURFER (best price 7-1) ran out quite an impressive winner on his first start for 124 days at Fontwell a month ago and with conditions set to be like what he encountered that day (withdrawn on soft ground last time); Jamie Snowden’s gelding might just take a bit of stopping if anywhere near the same frame of mind. 

Held up in the rear at the Sussex venue, the five-year-old was produced with his effort approaching two out and with a fine turn of foot, he quickened right way from his five rivals to ultimately score with loads in hand. 

Looking at the final circuit data from that contest 44 days ago, it shows he was 2.9 seconds faster than the 126-rated Pyffo who ran over half a mile shorter and 3.3 and 3.4 seconds better than the two 2m3f handicaps on the same card respectively. 

Just to add further ballast to the theory it was a useful race for the grade, runner-up Sea The Clouds went on to land a valuable prize off a mark of 117 at Cartmel last weekend and the same stable will be hoping this lightly raced gelding can follow suit off just 107 here. 

JUMPING SUSIE (best price 13-2) got no further than the second flight at Sligo last time out but other than that slight blip, she’s been a largely consistent mare throughout her career, and she looks booked to go well again at a track where she has previous fond memories (runner-up to Minella Youngy two years ago). 

Prior to that uncharacteristic mistake 19 days ago, John McConnell’s mare had produced a commanding performance when running her rivals into submission at Tramore (strong speed figure) and with the third home that day, Wudya, boosting the form at Killarney last week, a repeat of something similar should see her put up another bold show back in handicap company.

Ebaabiyah is undeniably the most likely winner of this listed prize having toyed with her opponents in the style of a classy filly at Salisbury last time out but as we’ve seen time and time again at York, strange results often occur at this specialist track and KARMOLOGY (best price 7-1), the only C&D winner in the field, could well be the one to provide the shock. 

Although it was only a Class 4 handicap she won here last time out, the time figure she posted was very good for the grade and the most likeable feature of her victory was how strong she was in the latter stages when heavily pressed either side by two deep closers. 

Obviously, she’s going to need to improve again to cope with the favourite, but she should have the measure of the rest at the very least and that makes her a cast iron each-way bet at the morning odds.