Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

NEVER NO MORE (best price 5-4) found the necessary improvement from his debut run to score second time of asking at Dundalk the other night and with the prospect of even more to come from this exciting juvenile, he receives the confident vote to keep his profile going in an upward direction.

Badly in need of the experience when third to stable mate at Naas on his opening gambit last month, the No Nay Never colt was made a warm order to defeat six opponents on the all-weather nine days ago and although it looked mandatory task on paper beforehand, the style of the winning performance and numbers he clocked suggested it was anything but. Clocking an impressive overall for the five-furlong journey, he also posted 33.3 from the last three furlongs and given that he achieved this feast all in hand, it’s clear we are dealing with a potentially useful colt. Obviously, he’s now got to try and replicate that level of ability back on the turf, but being as the Co Meath track hasn’t been too badly affected by the rain looking at the going reports (set for largely sunny day), it would be disappointing if Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile doesn’t deliver the goods over a track that should play into his strengths (very strong at the finish on both runs).

DASH D’OR (NAP) (best price 7-1) landed a similar event at Naas last time out with consummate ease and even though the handicapper has tried his best to intervene, it might not be enough to prevent the five-year-old mare from going in again.

Since dispensed with all the aids, Kieran Cotter’s grey has really begun to find her feet and following two promising near misses over the minimum trip last month, she really flourished when asked to race over an extra furlong at the Co Kildare track 12 days ago. Always travelled sweetly in behind the speed, the daughter of Le Cadre Noir readily breezed by her field inside the final furlong and once establishing an unassailable advantage, she was actually eased off close home – such was her superiority. For the third time in succession, she’s been drawn next to her old rival, Mercury, and with Adrian Joyce’s gelding likely to ensure there’s a decent pace from the outset, her position in stall 18 should allow her the perfect tow into the business part of the race down the potentially favoured part of the track (high numbers often have an advantage at this time of year when track has taken a battering over on the far side rail). Having already run well over today’s stiff track and seemingly so much in her favour again this afternoon, her morning quotes around the 7-1 mark, it’s hard to envisage her not finishing in the first four at the very least and she rates a solid each-way proposition (some firms paying five places).

Willie Mullins once again proved that he’s the master when it comes to these big staying handicaps with a 1-2 in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket yesterday and while it would be expecting a miracle of epic proportions if lightening were to strike twice in 24 hours, there’s a decent chance that two of seven representatives, EXCHANGE RATE (best price 8-1) and PLEASURE DOME (best price 20-1), will have something to say in the final outcome at the very least.

The former is a difficult one to assess in may respects because he’s only had the three starts on the Flat, but in the one outing where he faced similar opponents to the ones he tackles today at Killarney, he had to be marked down an unlucky loser and that makes him an interesting contender off his current mark. Finishing strongly in the latter stages at the Co Kerry track, the son of Monsun only narrowly failed to peg back the positively-ridden Brazos but he certainly left the impressive that a stronger gallop and a more galloping track would suit. Never out of canter when capturing the popular Failte Abhaile at the Listowel Festival last night, that performance should give the six-year-old all the confidence what he needs coming into a race of this nature today and with stamina very much his key attribute, this examination over two miles should prove right up his street.

The latter is a classic Mullins runner in a race of this nature, arriving here off the back of a fruitful campaign over hurdles and being potentially well-handicapped on a return to the Flat as a result (Low Sun had a similar profile).

Since resorting back to the smaller obstacles, the daughter of Makfi has really flourished and her two victories at Sligo and Ballinrobe were achieved with a good deal of panache. Although beaten last time out when bidding for the hat trick, she was victim of circumstances more than anything else as she was inexplicably softened up by her stable companion, Calie Du Mesnil before being picked off late on by the patiently-ridden Awaywiththewest. Only four pounds higher when a previous winner on the level over in the UK, this in-form five-year-old mare rates a must for any shortlist.

The handicapper has a fair idea of where he stands with most of today’s runners in this prestigious prize, but the same can’t be said for BLACK SCORPION (best price 9-2) and IT’S ALL GUESSORK (best price 10-1) and they are both worth playing against the field.

Seemingly improving at a rapid rate of knots since switching yards, the former arrives here off the back of a silky-smooth victory at Listowel last time out and immediately after that performance, today’s contest was muted as his next target. The way he jumped and travelled at the Co Kerry venue pointed heavily towards a horse who could looked ready for a step up in grade and with his time figures also stacking up well that day compared to the decent novice chase, it was clear that a rating of 118 at the time was nowhere near his true level of ability. Although yet to conclusively prove he stays three miles, the way he goes about his business certainly gives him every chance and having run well at the track before on bottomless ground, today’s better surface should help the son of Scorpion in all departments.

The latter is similar in many ways being a horse with low mileage who has the potential of being a good bit better than his current mark and the way he won at Navan last time out backs up that view. Always travelling well at the Co Meath track, Gordon Elliot’s gelding also impressed in the jumping department and with those sort of skills very much needed when it comes to races of this nature, a big run is expected providing the ground hasn’t deteriorated too much in the last 48 hours (best form on good ground).