Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Birds Of Prey was a big eye-catcher here on his hurdling debut and is likely to improve, but he’s not going to change anyone’s life backing him at odds-on and the percentage each-way alternative at much more appealing odds is CHAMPAGNE WELL (best price 7-1).

A promising fifth in a hot bumper at Chepstow on his rules debut, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding was sent up North in his bid to get off the mark and although he was made to work hard for his victory, at the same time he impressed by the way he stuck his neck down in the face of the persistent challenge of the well-fancied Big Bad Bear all the way down the home straight. Obviously, the son of Gold Well lacks the experience of many of these having his hurdling debut, but the fact that he comes from a point-to-point background should stand him good stead when he faces up to the obstacles, and providing he doesn’t do anything stupid in that department, he’s the one rated the most likely to give the favourite a race and reward solid each-way support.

NOT NORMAL (best price 5-2) wouldn’t be the only horse to bump into a Donald McCain-trained front runner that kept up a relentless gallop at Bangor, but he went a long way to suggest he has a future over hurdles and he looks primed to go well in a race that only concerns four on paper. Placed in two bumpers last season, unfortunately Emma Lavelle’s charge got no further than the first on his hurdling debut at Chepstow, but he wasted no time showing what he could do when he stays on his feet with that excellent effort at the North Wales track last time out. Having raced exclusively on soft or heavy ground so far in his career, today’s conditions should pose no fears and he is worth supporting accordingly.

MR GREY SKY (NAP) (best price 2-1) was a well-supported favourite on his rules debut in a bumper over today’s C&D last time out and he rates a strong choice to repeat his win under similar conditions. In a well-run affair 25 days ago, Kim Bailey’s four-year-old just struggled to hold his place as the pace continued to increase down the straight, but he kept grinding away inside the final quarter mile to fashion out a gutsy and in the end, cosy victory. Clearly well suited by a test of stamina, hopefully this scopey grey will get a similar set of circumstances on his return visit to the Merseyside track and if so, the son of Fame And Glory should prove hard to beat.