Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

A run of seconds in a horse’s profile can often lend itself to the alarm bells ringing, but in the case of IMPACT FACTOR (best price 11-2), he simply looks like he’s been crying out for a step up in trip and he’s fancied to back up that theory in this competitive handicap.

A useful hurdler last season, the fact that Jessica Harrington’s gelding was sent off only an 8-1 chance in the Grade 1 Top Novice Hurdle at Aintree was testimony to the level he’d been running to previously and although he came up a little short on the day, he certainly deserved a shot at the big guns. Sent over fences this campaign, he’s taken a while to find his feet but on the evidence of his last two starts, it surely can’t be too long before he’s winning. There was certainly no disgrace in chasing home Cilaos Emery at Gowran on his penultimate outing and even though he rather frustratingly filled out the same position at Punchestown last time out, the horse that beat him that day, Riders On the Storm, is a proper tool when he brings his A-game to the party. Although the son of Flemensfirth technically has a bit to find with Uisce Beatha based on their previous clash, hopefully the extra distance today will bring them closer together and he rates solid each-way fodder and for those that like to play in the place only markets.

If The Cap Fits looks a worthy favourite based on his success in the Coral Hurdle over Old Guard at Ascot earlier in the campaign and while there was massive temptation to keep Harry Fry’s charge on side, the percentage call was to play VISION DE FLOS (best price 3-1) at better odds in the without the favourite market.

Although yet to win this season, Colin Tizzard’s performer has yet to run a bad race in five completed starts and his last effort when chasing home two smart sorts in the Kingwell Hurdle over a sharp two miles deserves a good deal of credit. Based on that display and the one before when he got readily outpaced by Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D’Air at Sandown, suggests that a step back up in trip now looks a viable option and if he repeats his performance when chasing home the useful Wholestone over 2m4f at Aintree back in November, he would have a better chance than his odds indicate of carrying home this prestigious prize.

The first-time tongue-tie seemed to make all the difference to the performance levels of CURIOUS TIMES (NAP) (best price 5-2) at Down Royal last time out and he rates a solid bet to confirm that form back in handicap company.

Having shaped like he wasn’t getting home over 2m4f twice previous, connections decided enough was enough and took it on board to drop him back in trip and aid him with the contraption that could also help his breathing in the latter stages of his races. Sent to the Co Down venue 26 days ago to see whether the experiment would work, the son of Shantou once again travelled supremely well throughout the contest, but this time when push came to shove inside the final half a mile, he stayed on strongly to defeat the only rival able to keep tabs with him in the run to the line and with that horse going on to score easily next time out (Black Tears), the form looks even more stronger. Moreover, the time figure he posted came out much better than the 120- rated novice race won by Denwork half an hour later, so based on those findings, Shane Crawford’s gelding appears attractively treated here off a mark of 113 and he should be backed accordingly.

DOC CARVER (best price 6-4) finally delivered the goods at Chepstow last time out after a series of frustrating efforts, and with the numbers he posted that day suggesting he’d run to a fairly high level for the grade, Henry Oliver’s gelding rates a confident choice to follow up.

Having his first outing since wind surgery, the son of Lakeshore Road was well supported to show the operation had been a success and although he appeared to be fighting a losing battle all the way down the long home straight at the Welsh track, he fought back bravely get up close home. When a speed figure is good, it’s always nice to see the form work out well and with the runner-up, Air De Rock and third, Paddy’s Poem, both going on to resounding victories next time, this one in particular looks extremely reliable and with a little more remedial work done in the interim, the eight-year-old can prove that he remains a very well handicapped horse.