Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

LIKE AN OPEN BOOK (best price 4-1) technically has a bit to find with King Of Brega on their recent C&D encounter, but as the daughter of Well Chosen gave away a huge track advantage to one of her main market rivals, she’s fancied to turn around the form if given a more positive ride. 

Habitually a hold-up performer, the nine-year-old mare was probably given a little too much to do in hindsight considering how the race panned out here 29 days ago, so it was to her great credit that she managed to work herself into the picture approaching the last and eventually finish third. Likely to be dropped again, hopefully the pace will be a good deal stronger this time around and this track specialist can uphold her record at the Co Tipperary venue of 4133 under ideal conditions.

KINGS ECLIPSE (NAP) (best price 9-2) ultimately ran out an impressive winner of the Northern Lights Staying Series at Carlisle when last seen and he’s fancied to continue his progression under conditions that should play a real emphasis on stamina.

Badly in need of the run over today’s course back in October, the nine-year-old was a totally different proposition in the race that mattered the most two months later and impressing by the way he ground his opponents into submission in the latter stages, he scored in the manner of a horse who could climb through the ranks. Moreover, his overall winning time and final lap sectionals produced numbers better than the 2m 4f listed contest on the same card won by the 137-rated Pearl Royale, so based on those findings, Andrew Wilson’s gelding might still have a bit up his sleeve even allowing for the fact he’s risen 10 spots in the ratings. 

If the overall times and sectionals of CjooChoobugaloo at Kelso last week are to believed, BRACKA LILY (best price 5-1) had absolutely no chance of competing on a level playing field with Sam England’s ridiculously well-handicapped mare, but as there doesn’t appear to be anything remotely as progressive in today’s line-up, the Irish raider has an opportunity to shine.

Held up towards the rear at the Borders venue, the daughter of Mahler worked herself into a dangerous-looking challenging position rounding the home turn but at that point it quickly became noticeable that the eventual winner was simply laughing over her and the rest of the field. She did, however, keep on well enough to finish a creditable third and even getting beaten 10 lengths, she still managed to record a faster final circuit that the smart novices Encore Champs and Lord Yeats – which is an amazing feat for the grade. If there is a slight question mark surrounding her chance it comes from the fact she’s now up in trip, but given her current wellbeing based on her numbers last week, she’s worth a small risk.

Probably not that strong a novice hurdle and it’s one that SHANG TANG (best price 11-2) should be capable of figuring if taking to hurdles at the first time of asking. Sent off 4-1 second favourite to land a bumper on debut at Chepstow back in November, the son of Shantou gave out plenty of hope to his supporters as the field turned for home at the Welsh track, but as the taps were really turned on down the home straight, he simply couldn’t go with the main players for one reason or another.

Although well beaten in the end, subsequent events of those ahead of him that day indicate Emma Lavelle’s gelding probably didn’t run that badly after all and having been given plenty of time to recover from that baptism of fire 74 days ago, the five-year-old might just be better equipped to cope with this weaker-looking opposition.