Andy Holding's Sunday Horse Racing Tips

In receipt of weight all round, Let’s Dance is very much the one to beat, but at the same time, a strong case can be carved out for JOEY SASA (best price 13-2) and he appeals as the value each-way alternative. Following a couple of narrow-margin defeats in his first two races over hurdles, Noel Meade’s inmate got his just rewards for those solid performances with a deserved victory over today’s course last time out. In staying on strongly in the latter stages of a well-run contest, the son of Winged Love took the scalps of several highly-regarded sorts, including subsequent winner, Barra, and with an extra two furlongs likely to suit, it’s hard to see him not hitting the frame at the very least.

A small, but select field go to post for this recognised Arkle trial, and although a case can be made for each of the quartet, ROYAL CAVIAR (best price 6-1) makes the most appeal at the prices. A smart novice hurdler last season, Willie Mullins’ charge made the perfect start to his life over fences with a scintillating display at Thurles and although he didn’t beat a top class field that day, runner-up Keppols Queen is certainly no mug. The feature of that performance 42 days ago, however, was his pin-point accurate jumping from the front and presuming he is ridden in the same manner here this afternoon, the son of Vinnie Roe could take some pegging back if he gets into a nice early rhythm around a track that rewards a good technique.

POWERSBOMB (NAP) (best price 3-1), a fairly middle-of-the-road handicapper over hurdles, looks to have taken over a new lease of life since switching to fences and providing he’s suffered no ill effects from his last fence tumble here last time out, he should prove difficult to beat. Looking a total different proposition when ridden from the front two starts ago at Clonmel, Brian McMahon’s inmate appeared to have a decent handicap over today’s course safely in his pocket until getting in too tight to the last and coming a cropper. If he would have stayed on his feet that day, he would have accounted for subsequent easy Punchestown winner Ball D’Arc, who looked well held back in third at the time, and that level of form looks hard to knock in the context of this race.