Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

As it turned out, ARTIC PEARL (best price 7-2) faced an impossible task trying to keep tabs with the well-handicapped Shar Whatstherush (short-priced favourite to land the last at Cork today) at Fairyhouse last time out, but he’s fancied to make amends with seemingly nothing remotely sneaky in opposition here this afternoon. Although everything seemed rosy in the garden with Martin Brassil’s charge rounding the home turn 33 days ago, it quickly became apparent that he was going to be engulfed by the eventual winner’s change of pace and although he kept on valiantly all the way to the line, he could only find the one pace against a horse who ran a terrific speed figure for the grade. Prior to that excellent display, the son of Shirocco had proven effective over today’s C&D when getting the better of a 16-strong field in decisive fashion and even though he’s steadily creeping up the ratings for his recent endeavours, he’s still appears well treated a mark of 101 relative to today’s opponents. The in-form pair Gracemount and AA Bee See arrive here in excellent shape but Artic Pearl ran to a completely different last time and is a confident vote get back to winning ways.

GRANNY BIDDY (best price 5-1) had been one of the success stories of the season so far and although today’s examination will require another huge leap forward, her track craft and wellbeing combined should give her a fighting chance of bridging the rise in class. Beginning her meteoric climb up the ranks from a humble 87 handicapper to today’s heady heights of 135, five wins from six starts have seen her stock shoot through the roof and with the last three of those successes coming over this afternoon’s course, Michael Winter’s inmate clearly loves the layout of the Co Mallow venue. Whether she’s actually good enough is obviously a moot point, but it’s worth pointing out on the day she scored on her first visit here back in October, she managed to clock a final circuit time quicker than Moyross, who took the 3m novices’ hurdle on the same card, so using those findings as a rough guide, the daughter of Flemensfirth might not necessarily be out of her depth as many would perceive.

All eyes will be focused on Un De Sceaux as he makes his eagerly-awaited seasonal return, but despite this being a much easier task on paper than tackling the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown yesterday (withdrawn at the overnight stage) this won’t be the walk in the park the market suggests up against BALLYOISIN (best price 5-1). Improving at a rapid rate of knots, the son of Presenting arrives here following a career-high effort when chasing home the top-class Disko in a Grade 2 at Down Royal last time out and with the time figure of that race also suggesting it was a performance of some note, the six-year-old should in no way be underestimated here this afternoon (well beaten third, Ball D’Arc won since). Indeed, his victory the time before not only confirmed his liking for a flat, right-handed track, but the likes of Doctor Phoenix and Nearly Nama’d have both gone on to endorse the form next time out and with today’s pace likely to be strong courtesy of Alisier D’Irlande and Un De Sceaux himself in opposition, Enda Bolger’s inmate should get the perfect set-up to make his race fitness count.

Although beaten comprehensively in that race at Down Royal, BALL D’ARC (best price 16-1) was having his first outing for 191 days so he was entitled to need the run, and that theory was backed up by his smooth success at Naas last time out. Looking a good deal more sharper at the Co Kildare venue, Gordon Elliot’s gelding stayed on strongly late on to claim the scalps of smart pair, Ordinary World and American Tom, and although it might well be that he’s always operating at a level just below Grade 1 standard, his ability to handle testing ground and race fitness are likely to count for plenty under today’s conditions.

SHAR WHATS THERUSH (NAP) had been disappointing on his first try in handicap company back in September, but following a 59-day break and a tongue-tie added for the first time, the son of Doyen proved a revelation at Fairyhouse last time out and that level of form gives him a distinct advantage here this afternoon. Always going well in behind what turned out to be a strong pace for the grade at the Co Meath track, Donal Hassett’s inmate stayed on extremely well inside the final half a mile and in pulling right away from his field from the last – including the well-backed and previous easy winner Arctic Pearl – he scored in the style of an improving handicapper. Indeed, if you take his final lap time that day of 2.20.6 and compare it to the likes of Jetz’s 2.24.2 (likely to be rated in the 140’s following his run behind Samcro next time) and the one posted by Chateau Conti (rated 136) of 2.23.8, it’s clear the four-year-old ran way beyond his rating of just 87. Providing he can run somewhere near the same level 33 days on, quite clearly his revised mark just 8lb is nowhere harsh enough to prevent him going in again against similar opposition and he should be supported accordingly.