Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Preview & Tips

ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY (NAP) (best price 2-1) made a more than satisfactory start to his life over fences with a tremendous effort in chasing home the potentially very smart Sir Ivan at Uttoxeter a month ago and with the promise of more to come, Caroline Bailey’s charge receives the confident vote to justify his market position. Racing with enthusiasm at the Midland track, the son of Robin Des Pres had most of his rivals in trouble turning for home and even though he just didn’t quite have the necessary quality and stamina to fend off the eventual winner, he can hold his head up high on account of beating the rest a long way. Indeed, the winning time figure indicating they went a pretty good clip throughout and with the likes of Another Venture and Sharp Response (both well beaten) going on to run really well next time out, the race has panned out as well as the numbers suggested.

All eyes will no doubt be on Fox Norton as he makes his eagerly-awaited seasonal return and while he’s clearly the one to beat on his Champion Chase form alone, he may not have things entirely his own way with CLOUDY DREAM (best price 7-2) in opposition. A smart novice chaser in his own right last season, his best effort came when he chased home arguably the best two-miler around in the shape of Altior in the Arkle Trophy and that performance was handsomely rewarded with a smooth success in a Grade 2 at Ayr on his final start of the campaign. Making his seasonal reappearance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month, the son of Cloudings proved he could mix it with the older, more established brigade with a fine effort behind the gritty Smad Place (may have won but for being hampered at the last) and having come from a background of soft ground races over the minimum trip, conditions will inconvenience him less than others.

The presence of The New One has done quite a few of these a big favour, none more so than TIGRIS RIVER (best price 12-1) who, for not an overly big horse, could have easily found himself having to hump top weight in bad ground. Judged on his position in the market, however, he appears to be the forgotten horse of the race, but that would be a foolish stance to take as he was a worthy winner of what appeared to be an above-average renewal of The Galway Hurdle on his last start. The fact that both he, and the subsequent Irish November Handicap winner, Swamp Fox, pulled well clear of rest of the field, is testimony to his capabilities and even though the handicapper has seen fit to raise him accordingly, his new perch doesn’t appear insurmountable with conditions in his favour (plenty of soft ground form under both codes). 

Things didn’t quite pan for the Harry Fry camp with Kylemore Lough in yesterday’s big race, but in the shape of MISTERTON (best price 10-1), the Dorset handler will be hopeful of better fortunes. His comeback success at Chepstow should have set him up nicely for a tilt at this valuable prize and with several in the field that day, most notable Elgin, going on to advertise the form of the race subsequently, the grey son of Sagamix can make hay off his light weight.