Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips & Preview

Quite a bit of potential on show here but no superstars at present, so with that in mind, EARLY DOORS (best price 11-1) looks to have been overlooked by the layers based on his level of achievements compared to others. A useful bumper horse, the son of Soldier Of Fortune is 2-2 over hurdles and with his latest success coming at the main expense of the useful Mere Devie in a decent Grade 3 contest at Navan, he’s already proven he can cut it against some smart opposition. Indeed, if you consider than he made a bad mistake at the second last 22 days and had the tenacity to out-battle several who travelled up going well down to the last, the performance carries even more credence. Moreover, he not only ran a faster overall time than Red Jack, who took the opening maiden hurdle over the same C&D, but he final circuit time of 2.45.8 compared to 2.49.8 and sectionals from three out were quicker than Noel Meade’s useful recruit. Using those findings as a guide, there’s simply no way Joseph O’Brien’s charge should be the price he is in the morning lists and even though many will read a lot into the fact J.P’s retained pilot, Barry Geraghty, has chosen to ride the stable’s other runner, Le Richebourg, Mark Walsh has got a perfectly good tune out of his mount on his last two starts so that has to be taken as a huge positive.

A rare raid for Willie Mullins to the Cumbrian venue as he sends Benie Des Dieux over the Irish Sea to do duty in this listed contest and given the way she dismantled some useful opponents on her debut for new connections last season, the daughter of Great Pretender should justify her air ticket. The battle for second looks up for grabs, however, and with her vital experience safely tucked under her belt, TACENDA (best price 11-8) can be the one to chase home the jolly. Looking assured over the larger obstacles on the way to an opening victory over fences at Fontwell, her speed figure in beating the well-fancied Two Swallows was an eye-catching one, and Anthony Honeyball’s mare looks to have a bright future regardless of how she gets on today.

APPLE’S JADE (NAP) (best price 11-8) has proven what a top-class mare she is time and time again and she rates a strong choice to land her sixth Grade 1 and follow up her victory in this race last year. Beaten on her first start to last year’s campaign, the good news for her supporters today is she comes here on the back of a notable success at the first time of asking this time around. Making all the running in typically determined fashion, Gordon Elliot’s inmate had the qualities to fend off the persistent challenge of the smart Jer’s Girl in the Lismullen hurdle at Navan and that effort should set her up nicely for a tilt at this prize this afternoon. Likely to get her own way at the heads of affairs, it will take a big effort by one of her rivals to get by her once in full throttle. 

FOX APPEAL (best price 4-1) isn’t the force he once was, but he can still run to a decent standard and following a creditable effort when finishing fifth in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton last time out, the 10-year-old looks poised to put up another big performance here this afternoon. Although Emma Lavelle’s charge couldn’t quite go with the main players 22 days ago, the overall time figure of the contest suggested he’d run up to a pretty high standard even getting beaten by a double-digit margin and returning to a trip more in-keeping with his overall profile, the son of Brian Boru can roll back the years.

Some big players from powerful yards turn out here, but there’s half a chance that a smaller stable can have a big pay day as CHARLIE STOUT (best price 18-1) flies the flag for the Shane Nolan barn. A likeable and consistent sort, the six-year-old arrives her on the back of three consecutive runner-up spots, the latest of which was the most agonising of the trio. Having travelled like the best horse throughout (almost too well in retrospect), the son of Spadoun was probably left in front too far out and following an untidy jump at the last when two lengths clear, he eventually had his pocket picked by the late rush of the more patiently ridden Top Of The Ra. Hopefully, connections will have learnt valuable lessons from that defeat and give Robbie Colgan instructions to hold on to his mount a little longer and with the ground conditions and likely strong pace to suit, he makes plenty of each-way appeal at his top morning odds (some firms going five places).