Andy Holding's Sunday Horse Racing Tips

PRIME VENTURE (best price 3-1) left the impression he rather threw away what looked a golden opportunity for him last time out at Lingfield and he can make amends at the main expense of Constantine Bay, who is bound to be all the rage given his sexy profile. A winner of a Sedgefield maiden hurdle in a decent time figure on his seasonal bow, Evan Williams’ inmate seemed to travelling well enough going down to the last at the Surrey venue last time out, but a jink to the right and a loss of momentum swung the pendulum in the favour of Daklondike, who readily excepted the gift. Hopefully that loss of concentration won’t be a recurring theme throughout his career as the son of Primary has a decent engine when engaging his mind, and with ground conditions in his favour, he can certainly give the favourite plenty to think about at the very least.

VELOCITY BOY (NAP) (best price 9-4) looked to have his field stone cold at Down Royal last time out, but a whirlwind finish on the run-in by Last Goodbye prevented William Murphy’s charge from breaking his duck over fences. However, he did show a good deal more than he had done on his two previous outings and he’s fancied to make a big impact on his first try in handicap company. Adopting similar tactics at the Co Down venue to those he’s used to great effect over hurdles in the past, the son of Westerner seemed to appreciate being at the head of affairs rather than being dropped out the back door like he’d been asked to do on his two previous chase starts, and jumping with great aplomb throughout, he took the field along at brisk fractions. Although he got collared close home, he did more than enough to suggest there plenty of races to be won with him over fences and now dropping back down to a more suitable trip in accordance to his run style, he can prove difficult to peg back from the front.

The subsequent form of POPPY KAY’s (best price 9-4) Uttoxeter victory has been given plenty of timely enough boosts (Graceful Legend and Just Milly both won since) to suggest she could be quite well treated on her handicap debut and that theory is put to the test on only her third career start off a mark of just 114. Stepping up markedly on her opening hurdling effort when fourth behind the top-class mare Le Bague Au Roi, Philip Hobbs’ charge overcame keenness to score in tidy fashion at the Midland venue 49 days ago, and providing she settles well on this occasion, she clearly has enough quality to make a massive impact in these sort of races in the second half of the season.