Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

GREAT MINDS (best price 15-2) was bitterly disappointing the last time we saw him at Cork this time last year, but if his rookie handler can reignite the sort of spark that allowed him to land back-to-back listed races two seasons ago, he surely has every chance of going well in a race of this nature. Winner of the 2015 Woodlands Stakes over today’s course in his pomp, this lightly-raced gelding has clearly had his issues since, but given that he often goes really well fresh and with plenty of dig in the ground, he’s probably the type to catch first time off the shelf.

Although yet to prove himself entirely in this sort of grade, DUCKY MALLON (best price 25-1) has suggested on quite a few occasions that he’s capable of a performance beyond his current rating and following a nice pipe-opener at Dundalk last time out when the combination of an inexperienced pilot and 7f just found him out in the closing stages, he should be primed to outrun his morning odds with fitness on his side.

A race that has a totally different dynamic to it being run here over a turning mile rather than its usual home at the Curragh. In-keeping with the track characteristics, being able to break well and race up with the speed are vital ingredients to success at the Co Kildare venue so AUSSIE VALENTINE (best price 6-1) is a must for any shortlist having proven that he’s just as effective over this course as he is at the home of Irish racing. Runner-up in this race for the last two seasons, Paul Deegan’s charge has clearly had another tilt at this prestigious prize as his main early-season objective and following a nice prep at Dundalk 30 days ago when he kept on well to be a creditable fourth behind in-form Shannon Soul, another big run looks on the cards with ground and a decent draw in his favour. Although not as well blessed by the draw, MARSHALL JENNINGS (best price 20-1) is still worth a small punt on the basis of his liking for today’s course. Impressive when he came from some way off the pace to score over the C&D early last season, his ability to go well fresh and stable form offset his modest stall position in box 15.

BANCO DES LOGOS (best price 11-2) has shaped with plenty of encouragement on both his last two starts and with the latter performance stemming from today’s track, he rates solid each-way material in a race where few can be strongly fancied. Fifth behind Neptune runner-up Neon Wolf at Exeter two starts ago, the Laverock gelding went well for a long way before the testing conditions took its toll over today’s C&D last time out and although he gives the impression that genuine good ground will see him in a much better light, the conditions will be nowhere near as bad as they were 36 days ago, so he should be able to see his race out much better.