Friday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

A race in which so many have untapped potential and one of those who falls into that category is MISSION COMMAND (best price 8-1) and he rates a strong choice to keep up the good recent work for George Scott (30% strike rate). 

Reportedly found with a trapped testicle when disappointing on his debut at Nottingham, the son of Acclamation displayed more encouraging signs at Doncaster next time, keeping on well in the latter stages of a useful maiden on ground that deteriorated as the card progressed. 

Despite seeing out six furlongs well on Town Moor, he was dropped back to the minimum trip at Ripon last time out and he not only impressed with the way he travelled throughout, but how he quickened when asked to go about his work inside the final two furlongs. 

Handed an opening mark of 83, connections will be hoping this Mill Reef entry will prove that assessment all wrong in due course and drawn where there appears to be plenty of early pace around him (stalls 2 and 4 likely to make the running), a patient ride in behind the speed should see him come through strongly with a potent challenge at the business end. 

Back Holding's tips directly through oddschecker at a guaranteed best price by clicking the odds widget below.

If we weren’t already aware, Ross O’Sullivan has proven he is a name going places here this week and in the shape of VOLANTIS (best price 5-1), the Kilcullen handler has a fine chance of gaining even more glory. 

Desperately unlucky not to win this race last year, the six-year-old never got the rub of the green when bidding to make amends in a similar heat at Listowel two months later but he did leave the impression he could well be a good bit better than his current mark. 

Presumably saved for this race ever since, he had a nice spin around Roscommon on the Flat the other day just to blow away the cobwebs and providing he receives a clearer run than he did twelve months ago, the smooth-travelling gelding can massively outrun his odds. 

CHALLY CHUTE (best price 16-1) put up a brave attempt to capture this prize last season and with the strong possibility this contest has been on his radar for quite some time, the six-year-old chestnut has a better chance of going two places better than his morning odds imply. 

Winless since then, he hasn’t run too badly in defeat and his most recent effort in a listed company at Roscommon following a 240-day break would have served the purpose of edging him towards peak fitness at the very least. 

A previous C&D winner with a preference for some ease underfoot, the forecast thunderstorms during the day will inconvenience him less than most and even though he has been chalked up one of the outsiders, it will be disappointing if he doesn’t make some sort of impact. 

NARLITA (best price 12-1) ran better than the bare result suggests over tonight’s course two days ago and she is taken to back up the visual impression she created over a more suitable trip. 

Well known for her preference for soft ground, connections must box clever when to run the six-year-old and now doubt they would have ben praying for rain prior to this meeting. Whether the race over two miles the other night was used in preparation for tonight’s encounter, only those closely associated with the horse would know, but the way she travelled before getting tried up the hill was one of the defining features of her performance. 

Seemingly taking well to the first-time hood/tongue-tie combination, Harry Roger’s mare, whose best form has come over shorter trips than what she encountered here two days ago, should find the 1m6f journey ideal and her high cruising speed can once again put her in a position where she will be dangerous to all turning for home.