Andy Holding's Sunday Horse Racing Tips

Ben Pauling enjoyed a great afternoon yesterday when one of his up-and-coming stable stars, Willoughby Court, took the Grade 2 at Warwick, and in the shape of RED INDIAN (best price 5-4), the Gloucestershire handler another nice prospects on his hands and one that should be up to defying a penalty. Following a couple of promising performances in bumpers last season, the son of Sulamani began his career as hurdler in the best possible fashion by taking a maiden contest at Ffos Las and with the feature of that display at the Welsh venue being the excellent time figure he produced, there’s clearly plenty of substance to the form. Moreover, the likes of Jameson, Joueur Breslien and Crievehill have all gone on to boost the race in question with solid performances since, and with soft ground and track likely to play into his strengths, the five-year-old should ensure the long journey back to the Cotswolds is a shorter one than the one on the way up.

WARP FACTOR (best price 8-1) has to be marked down as slightly disappointing at Musselburgh last time out, but that performance didn’t do Pat Shanahan’s charge any justice and he can leave it well behind and prove his true worth in this intriguing contest. Promising behind a smart horse of Charlie Longsdon’s at the Edinburgh venue the time before, it was no surprise to see the The Carbon Unit gelding all the rage to go one place better on his return visit, but lit up with no cover on the outside from the outset, he paid for those early exertions with a tame effort at the business end. Likely to receive more cover in this bigger field, he should be good enough based on his speed figures to hit the frame at the very least.

A wide open race, but a couple of tempting propositions at the prices in the shape of INCITATUM (best price 14-1) and NERUAL (best price 16-1). The former travelled as well as anything on his latest visit to today’s track 29 days ago, but a bad blunder at the last cost him any chance he had of keeping tabs on the eventual winner, Tuzo. However, that performance was the fourth time the Arcadio gelding has gone well at the Co Kildare venue and with conditions to suit, another big effort looks on the cards.

The latter also ran with respect on her only visit to today’s course three starts ago and she has to have some sort of squeak based on her form on handicap debut. Her latest effort when fourth in a strong maiden hurdle at Limerick has been advertised by the second, and given she was the only one to make any sort of in-roads of those held up out the back door that day, her performance deserves upgrading.

MARCUS ANTONIUS (best price 3-1) posted a smart set of figures when scoring over today’s course last time out and he looks to have been found an ideal opportunity to follow up 17 days on. Racing over the Borders venue for the first time, Lucinda Russell’s charge took to the sharp, undulating track like a duck to water and in powering clear off strong fractions in the latter stages, he won with a bit to spare. Although today’s contest represents a significant rise in class, the way he went through his race suggests he’s likely to be suited by being in a better quality heat and, with a sound tempo almost guaranteed with Aristo Du Plessis in the field, the son of Mark Of Esteem should get the perfect set up.

The ultimate irony about the fall of BALLYOISIN (NAP) (best price 13-8) over today’s course last time, is that he’d jumped beautifully until the point of departure four from home and providing he hasn’t suffered any long-term mental damage from that tumble, Enda Bolger’s charge is certainly good enough to get back on track in a race where few can be seriously fancied. Although a former point-to-point winner, the son of Presenting is clearly not short of boot given he managed to finish only three lengths behind Limini on hurdles debut, and his victory in a maiden hurdle over the minimum only went to further cement that view. Likely to be ridden aggressive again given that he’s dropping back down in trip here, this free-going sort should take plenty of stopping if he can stay on his feet this time around.