Friday's Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

NAZIONALE (best price 15-2) created a favourable impression on his debut at Kempton a month ago and providing he can adapt to the grass at the first time of asking, Richard Hannon’s colt is certainly capable of keeping the good run of his stable going in the right direction. 

Slowly away and green through the early exchanges at the Sunbury venue, the son of Ten Sovereigns was still in an unpromising position turning for home, but despite being posted out wide, he stayed on in taking fashion down the middle of the track to finish a close-up third and considering his rider never once resorted to the persuader, his effort deserves extra merit. 

A likeable type with plenty of size and scope, he should go well despite being against plenty of similarly promising three-year-olds. 

It’s a shame there are only seven runners for each-way betting purposes but otherwise, a cracking line-up for this early season mile test and the one who makes the most appeal at the morning odds is POKER FACE (best price 13-2). 

Only disappointing once in seven starts last season when failing to see out 1m2f at Royal Ascot, Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding enjoyed a fruitful campaign either side of that below-par effort and there was little doubt his best effort came when accounting for the likes of Issac Shelby and Embesto in a Group 2 at Longchamp on Arc weekend. 

The way he cruised through that well run affair before quickening away from a stellar field set him up nicely for a similar prize at San Siro a month later but unfortunately, he couldn’t repeat the dose on account of the very heavy ground that transpired at the Italian-based circuit. 

Back on these shores and up against a smart field, he will need to be on top of his game if he is to walk away with the prize and although he is likely to improve as the season goes along, he does go well enough fresh to warrant a small interest following his 166-day break. 

Three places advised.

CHARLES RITZ (best price 6-1) found the combination of heavy ground and trying to keep tabs on two improving novices a bridge too far at Newbury last time out but now he has his sights considerably lowered, there’s a decent chance Tom George’s gelding will prove more effective in this sort of environment. 

Always on the back foot at the Berkshire venue he did manage to work himself into a position where he looked threatening turning for home but once in line for the final four fences, he began to start feeling the pinch and he could only keep on at the one pace. 

Prior to that modest effort, he performed much better in one of the hottest novice handicaps of the season won by Ginny’s Destiny at Cheltenham and even though he got beaten the thick end of 20 lengths that day, his speed figure still comes out well in the context of today’s race. Indeed, the numbers he produced when scoring at Exeter first time out also read well and in the hope his stable may have begun to drift out of the fallow period they have endured for much of the winter (Inflexible first winner for a while at Wincanton on Sunday), the son of Milan has a profile to suggest he can stick another one on the board for his Gloucestershire handler. 

Surf Club is bound to be a popular choice being a last time out winner for Willie Mullins, but he may have his work cut out coping with JACENRY (best price 4-1) on his return to hurdles and the five-year-old rates the percentage call at the morning prices.

A winner at gutsy winner at Down Royal two starts ago, landing a gamble in the process, the son of Buck’s Boum returned to the scene of that breakthrough success well fancied to repeat the dose but on a day that favoured front runners, he couldn’t quite peg back all-the-way winner O’Faolain’s Glory, who just kept churning out the fractions. 

Although he’s yet to race beyond 2m4f, he shapes like he will appreciate further and other than the favourite, this kind of level looks well within his range based on his recent exploits.