Andy Holding's Sunday Horse Racing Tips

Cenotaph could easily be a pattern horse masquerading as a handicapper but, as he’s yet to win on turf and he’s battling a 22lb hike in the weights, life won’t be easy for Aidan O’Brien’s inmate off his 217-day layoff. CLUB WEXFORD (best price 12-1) came out of his opening race of the season with great credit and he’s fancied to put up another bold show despite slight reservations about the trip. On his first outing for 204 days, Jim Bolger’s charge was dropped out from his wide draw and at halfway found himself with plenty to do, but finishing strongest of all down the outside he ran past most of field to get within half-a-length of the well-ridden winner, Beechmount Whisper, who had the luxury of saving ground around the inside. Not only does the form look strong, the time figure of the race was the fastest furlong-per-furlong on the card, so it makes the overall performance even more meritorious. Although he’s been campaigned largely over 7f/1m in recent times, one of his career-best performances came over today’s trip at the Curragh this time last year when, from a poor draw, he stayed on strongest of all to almost overhaul Bubbly Bellini in the dying strides. Drawn right next to the main front runners in the field, Tribal Path and An Saighduir, the son of Lawman should get the ideal tow into the race right down the middle and he looks overpriced given the list of positives next to his name. It’s not too long ago, RAPID APPLAUSE (best price 15-2) was plying his trade in Group 2 company, so it’s clear that Michael O’Callaghan’s inmate has had quite a few issues since those heady days. However, since gelded, the son of Royal Applause has shown a bit more spark and on the evidence of his latest effort at Dundalk when he came from a mile back to finish a never-nearer fifth, it certainly looks as though he’s capable of winning off his current mark anytime soon.

Good ground brought about a much more positive response from CONTRE TOUS(NAP) (best price 7-4) over today’s C&D last time out and returning to the scene of that breakthrough success, Paul Nicholls’ charge is strongly fancied to follow up and defy his welter burden. Impressing on two counts that day, firstly by the way he travelled throughout the contest and secondly, how he battled on the run-in to wear down the useful Movie Legend in a protracted dual, and with underfoot conditions very much in his favour once again, this lightly-raced French-bred can provide his stable with some cheer after a fairly taxing week.

Aidan O’Brien has made an uncharacteristically solid start to the campaign, so hopes will be high that US Army Ranger can carry on the good work for the Ballydoyle handler on his seasonal return. However, the son of Galileo was slightly disappointing on several starts last season and he once again seems to have been priced up on his reputation rather than what he’s actually achieved on the track. SUCCESS DAYS (best price 3-1), on the other hand, never runs a bad race and having already taken the scalp of the favourite when make all the running to land the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh towards the backend of last season, he rates the value call at his morning odds. Runner-up to the top-class Zhukova on her opening salvo last season, Ken Condon’s charge once again proved that he goes particularly well fresh and with his attacking run style a big asset over a track which often favours front runners, the five-year-old grey can make all on ground which will also suit.